Raelyn’s Journey Home: Next Stop Philadelphia Hospital

A Journey of Ups, Downs, and Hopeful Healing

Many recognize the Gordon name — Raelyn has been fighting CHD (Congenital Heart Disease) for the past 8 years and has so many fans, friends, and loved ones who rally to support her, her parents, and her three siblings through several challenges.

Rae's body has always had a mind of its own, and it's at it again ❤️

In March of this year, she bravely underwent the Fontan procedure to help her heart work better. This is something that had to be done, but was difficult to process as an 8 year old. The family knew complications could arise, and while she initially came home quickly, the future had different plans for her.

Besides brief returns home, she’s been in the hospital, in Rochester, NY, for over three months.

The doctors at Rochester have been amazing, but have no other helpful options for her. The fluid from her Chylothorax continues to build and all options have been exhausted. She needs a transfer to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia).

After weeks of waiting, she has finally been accepted to transfer!

This transfer will take the Gordon family about 4.5 hours from home near Syracuse. This is the best next step for her recovery, but it also means more travel, more time away, and more expenses for her parents, who have stayed by her side through every step.

Her dad, hasn’t been able to work consistently because he’s needed to help make critical medical decisions and be there for Raelyn and Heather. The stay has been difficult for everyone as Rae is constantly struggling to be comfortable, in pain, misses school, friends, home, and being a kid.

This has already been a long road, and it will continue to be for the rest of the summer — with many questions still ahead before Raelyn can be home to stay.

That means weeks more of living away from home, covering travel costs, meals, parking, lost income, and the many unexpected needs that come up when your whole world shifts to a hospital room far from home.

As their community, we can help continue to carry this load so they don’t have to worry in Philadelphia.

How your gift helps:

If you know the Gordons, you know the struggles they've faced and how loving and kind they are when they have the opportunity to give to others.

If you feel led to give, thank you. If you can’t give, your prayers, love, and encouragement mean just as much. Please share this page, keep Raelyn in your prayers, and help us remind them they’re not alone in this.

Let’s help Raelyn get to Philadelphia, get stronger, and get home for good — healthy, happy, and surrounded by the friends and community who love her so dearly.

Next stop: Philadelphia. Someday soon, home to stay.