Friends of Gabby,

We are reaching out to our community, friends and family in an effort to give Gabby a helping hand for her medical expenses.

One year ago, Gabby’s life took an unexpected turn. She first thought she was tired and needed some rest. It soon became exhaustion. She then began experiencing tremors, making it difficult to walk. As the symptoms progressed her world became smaller and smaller.

Gabby is a junior student at Bates College majoring in Biology (in the pre-med curriculum). Her life goal is to become a veterinarian. Gabby grew up on a ranch in Montana. She dedicated her life to her two passions: animals and swimming. As a true cowgirl, and an exceptional student-athlete, one can describe Gabby as a vivacious, strong, active, athletic, intelligent and talented young woman. Growing up on the ranch kept her active herding cows, riding horses, feeding the ranch animals, cleaning stalls, just to name a few of her chores. At college, she was an incredible addition to the swim team, winning NESCAC Conference Women’s Swimming Rookie of the Year, the CSCAA Academic All-American Swim Team and in 2020 she achieved NESCAC All-Academic Honors. Gabby didn’t stop with her own accolades, she also spent a great deal of her time volunteering in her community, in humane societies, equine rescue, local clinics, and in the “learn to swim” program at Bates where they teach young children how to swim.

When the symptoms began last year, Gabby was no longer able to do her daily chores at home: throw hay bales, carry grain buckets, ride her horse. She also had to stop swimming (devastating to Gabby and an incredible loss for the team). The quick progression of her illness is now impeding Gabby to do basic activities like walk from class to class without taking rests, she cannot carry her school books, she cannot walk up the stairs, she has severe brain fog, tremors and many days has difficulty getting out of bed. Now her heart has been compromised.

Even as her condition worsens, Gabby has been relentless in helping herself get better. She has gone to see a number of doctors and specialists including cardiologists, neurologists and infectious disease doctors. But instead of finding answers and help, she‘s encountered more questions. Gabby has a multi-system autoimmune disease with a possibility of autoimmune encephalitis. The treatment would require her to receive Immunomodulatory therapy. However, in order to receive this treatment she needs to have a number of tests, including a tilt table test, an EMG test, bloodwork sent to Columbia Medical, biopsies sent to Mayo Clinic, a PET MRI, just to name a few. Between making the appointments with the right doctors and travel to see the doctors and get tested, it could take months and months to find treatment. Not to mention an incredible financial toll. Her medical bills have already become overwhelming.

But there is hope!!!

We found a doctor in NY who is able to see her this week!! He can perform all of the required tests to get approved for the Immunomodulatory therapy in ONE day!!!! The cost of this visit will be in excess of $5,000. If Gabby doesn’t take advantage of this rare opening in his schedule, she may have to wait until late summer for another appointment sacrificing precious time towards a treatment.

Since she manages her expenses on her own, OUR GOAL is to raise $6,000 to cover the cost of all the tests and the travel expenses to NY.

Please help us help Gabby! Any amount helps: $5, $25, $100 or more. Anything helps!!!

THANK YOU!!!