Hi, I’m Amanda Waters, and in 2014 one of my high school students, Gabby, became family. This May (2024) Gabby gave birth to her first child, a boy named Bodhi. Gabby set off on her parenthood journey alone as a full-time single mom; planning to return to work when Bodhi was 7 weeks old.

On Sunday, June 16th, at only 5 weeks old, Bodhi was inconsolable & whimpering in pain even in sleep. Gabby took him to Children’s Mercy in Overland Park, where Bodhi was found to have Intussusception (folding of the intestines). He was transferred to the Downtown Children’s Mercy where a team of 12 were waiting for him.

At 10:30PM Bodhi was taken back for emergency surgery where a third of his intestines were removed during a 2 hour surgery.

Sweet Bodhi is currently in the PICU with an open wound holding what’s left of his intestines outside of his little abdomen while they monitor further damage and allow swelling to go down.

He will be intubated until his second surgery, where they will remove further damage and close his abdomen.

His future is uncertain, with many outcomes being possible.

Gabby will be staying in the hospital for 3 weeks minimum with Bodhi. Her return to work as an hourly employee at an Autistic Early Childhood Care Center is now unknown.

I sit here writing this as they attempt to put in Bodhi’s PIC line again, where Gabby keeps a close eye on her baby.

If we could take some of the financial burden off of her shoulders, I know she would be eternally grateful.

I will try to post updates as they come.

These funds will be used to help Gabby and Bodhi cover living expenses and medical bills, so all their energy can go into Bodhi’s long recovery ahead.