Gort Support
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My name is Krysta Daly, I am a close friend of the Gorts, they would tell you I am family. The Gort family has had their share of trauma over the past 15 years, but 2017 has brought on a kind of trauma that no family can adequately prepare for. I will do my best to keep this short, but there is nothing short about the story of Gort.
When Tim and Regina were in their twenties they were preparing to welcome twin girls into their lives. However, the universe had different plans for them. They lost one of the girls, Gabby, and were able to welcome the beautiful Gwendolyn Willow into their lives. Gwen’s life came with some complications, she was diagnosed with mixed quadriplegia cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. This meant living paycheck to paycheck, heavy medical bills, and more money going out than was coming in. Tim and Gina sacrificed everything they could to support Gwendolyn, but it quickly became more than they could keep up with and they were forced to file bankruptcy. They maintained their “life in strides” attitude and leaned on each other for strength, doing everything they could do to make it through. Meanwhile giving Gwen more love and support than most young children receive in a lifetime, and finding ways to grieve the loss of Gabby.
When Gwen was five, Tim and Regina prepared to welcome another baby girl into their lives. Violet Ruth was born just 10 days before Gwendolyn’s sixth birthday. Due to a blood incompatibility, Violet was born with jaundice, but it was no match for Miss Violet. And so the Gorts went from a family of three to a family of four, just like that. This was a major life shift, finding a way to give both of their children everything.
A mere year and a half later, Tim, Regina, Gwendolyn, and Violet prepared to welcome yet another girl into their family. Tim and Gina were going to be out numbered and would continue to shift their lives to give their girls the world. This shift was much bigger than what they had prepared for. Eliza Madeline was born in February of 2010 and she too had jaundice. She did not respond to the lamps and was in need of a transfusion. Due to a medical error, air was injected into Eliza’s bloodstream and into her brain. The doctors resuscitated Eliza, but she had experienced major brain damage. Eliza, like her big sister, was diagnosed with mixed quadriplegia cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. Confused, broken, and processing Tim and Regina did their best to move forward and provide their amazing children with all of the love and support they could.
While Eliza was in the hospital, Gwendolyn was also admitted to the hospital and ended up receiving an irreversible trach. Which she later pulled out on her own, because she was able to breath without it. The hospital financially supported the Gorts with Eliza’s medical needs; providing them with in home care, a van and treatment at the hospital. However, supports were pulled in 2012 when the family decided to move from Grand Rapids, MI to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The Gort family was forced to sue the hospital for their mistakes that resulted in Eliza’s disability. They fought the hospital for years, meanwhile receiving very limited support (physically and financially) for the care of their daughters. This is when I entered the picture. I was Gwendolyn’s caregiver while they were in the midst of court, depositions, and litigation. This lasted years and they eventually settled with the hospital.
Shortly after the settlement they started renovations on their home in the UP to make it fully accessible for Gwendolyn and Eliza. While the house was under construction, they took their daughters (with the help of two caregivers) on an epic road trip that quickly turned into a bucket list road trip, providing them with memories they will cherish forever.
I know this is getting long, but the trauma here is insurmountable. Well, until 2017 rolled around.
When Gwendolyn was young she went into the hospital for a surgery and ended up contracting a bacteria in her lungs that she would have to fight with for the rest of her life. Gwen’s lungs stopped responding to medications and left the Gorts with no option other than to call in hospice. One week after Gwendolyn started hospice and at the age of 14, she died peacefully in her home surrounded by those she loved. This shook the Gorts and everyone that has known them to their cores, something no parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend can adequately prepare for.
Tim, Gina, Violet, and Eliza decided to move forward with their pre planned trip to Florida in Gwen’s honor. While in Florida Eliza had a massive seizure that resulted in a 911 call and significant brain damage. The daughter they knew was no longer there and the seizures did not subside.
Just about 6 months after Gwen’s death, Regina’s father took ill and inevitably passed away.
Less than a month after Gina’s father passed away and less than 7 months after Gwen’s death, with heavy hearts, the Gorts welcomed hospice into their home, yet again. At the age of 7, Eliza Madeline (better known as Bean Ball) passed away in her home, surrounded by those she loved. Again, this shook the Gorts and everyone that has known them to their cores.
Tim, Regina, and Violet are now a family of three and will forever cherish the memories they made with Gwendolyn and Eliza. In the spirit of taking life in strides and moving forward, the Gorts decided to embark on the Great Grief Roadtrip of 2017. Due to Eliza’s passing, their funds from the hospital were cut off and are currently tied up with Trust Lawyers. They have done everything they can to keep money off of the forefront of their brains, however, the financial burden that has come with the loss of their daughters (medical and funeral bills) is overwhelming.
Acknowledging their needs and getting support from their tribe, they determined it was mandatory to move forward with the Great Grief Roadtrip of 2017. They economically converted Eliza and Gwendolyn’s van into a camper van and headed west. Three weeks into their road trip they found themselves in Portland, visiting Gina’s sister. When it was time to leave, Regina suffered a breakdown that has been a long time coming. As a result, Regina will be resting, recovering, and rejuvenating at Esalen Institute in California. While Tim and Violet stay with friends in Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, this does not come cheap and the expenses are adding up, while their money remains tied up with trust lawyers. They plan to sell their car when they get home to help them get to January, when the trust should be transferred to their name. When the trust in officially transferred, the Gorts have plans in place to use the money to support others that suffer from grief. However, in the meantime they need financial support in order to get the emotional help that they need as they grieve the loss of Gwendolyn, Eliza, and Gina’s father.
This is a family that has welcomed me into their family and taught me everything along the way. Including compassion, moving forward, trusting the universe, and death. They supported me like nobody else could through my grandmother’s death and would do the same for anybody that they meet along the way. If you are able please consider donating to Gort Support and allow Tim, Violet, and Regina to grieve the loss of their girls without adding financial burden to their pile. This is an urgent need as Regina is entering Esalen on Sunday and they are in California needing to return to Michigan.
This is the link to their blog where you can read about their lives from their perspective (including entries from Violet), as well as keep up with them on their journey.
The House of Gort Blog
When Tim and Regina were in their twenties they were preparing to welcome twin girls into their lives. However, the universe had different plans for them. They lost one of the girls, Gabby, and were able to welcome the beautiful Gwendolyn Willow into their lives. Gwen’s life came with some complications, she was diagnosed with mixed quadriplegia cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. This meant living paycheck to paycheck, heavy medical bills, and more money going out than was coming in. Tim and Gina sacrificed everything they could to support Gwendolyn, but it quickly became more than they could keep up with and they were forced to file bankruptcy. They maintained their “life in strides” attitude and leaned on each other for strength, doing everything they could do to make it through. Meanwhile giving Gwen more love and support than most young children receive in a lifetime, and finding ways to grieve the loss of Gabby.
When Gwen was five, Tim and Regina prepared to welcome another baby girl into their lives. Violet Ruth was born just 10 days before Gwendolyn’s sixth birthday. Due to a blood incompatibility, Violet was born with jaundice, but it was no match for Miss Violet. And so the Gorts went from a family of three to a family of four, just like that. This was a major life shift, finding a way to give both of their children everything.
A mere year and a half later, Tim, Regina, Gwendolyn, and Violet prepared to welcome yet another girl into their family. Tim and Gina were going to be out numbered and would continue to shift their lives to give their girls the world. This shift was much bigger than what they had prepared for. Eliza Madeline was born in February of 2010 and she too had jaundice. She did not respond to the lamps and was in need of a transfusion. Due to a medical error, air was injected into Eliza’s bloodstream and into her brain. The doctors resuscitated Eliza, but she had experienced major brain damage. Eliza, like her big sister, was diagnosed with mixed quadriplegia cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. Confused, broken, and processing Tim and Regina did their best to move forward and provide their amazing children with all of the love and support they could.
While Eliza was in the hospital, Gwendolyn was also admitted to the hospital and ended up receiving an irreversible trach. Which she later pulled out on her own, because she was able to breath without it. The hospital financially supported the Gorts with Eliza’s medical needs; providing them with in home care, a van and treatment at the hospital. However, supports were pulled in 2012 when the family decided to move from Grand Rapids, MI to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The Gort family was forced to sue the hospital for their mistakes that resulted in Eliza’s disability. They fought the hospital for years, meanwhile receiving very limited support (physically and financially) for the care of their daughters. This is when I entered the picture. I was Gwendolyn’s caregiver while they were in the midst of court, depositions, and litigation. This lasted years and they eventually settled with the hospital.
Shortly after the settlement they started renovations on their home in the UP to make it fully accessible for Gwendolyn and Eliza. While the house was under construction, they took their daughters (with the help of two caregivers) on an epic road trip that quickly turned into a bucket list road trip, providing them with memories they will cherish forever.
I know this is getting long, but the trauma here is insurmountable. Well, until 2017 rolled around.
When Gwendolyn was young she went into the hospital for a surgery and ended up contracting a bacteria in her lungs that she would have to fight with for the rest of her life. Gwen’s lungs stopped responding to medications and left the Gorts with no option other than to call in hospice. One week after Gwendolyn started hospice and at the age of 14, she died peacefully in her home surrounded by those she loved. This shook the Gorts and everyone that has known them to their cores, something no parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend can adequately prepare for.
Tim, Gina, Violet, and Eliza decided to move forward with their pre planned trip to Florida in Gwen’s honor. While in Florida Eliza had a massive seizure that resulted in a 911 call and significant brain damage. The daughter they knew was no longer there and the seizures did not subside.
Just about 6 months after Gwen’s death, Regina’s father took ill and inevitably passed away.
Less than a month after Gina’s father passed away and less than 7 months after Gwen’s death, with heavy hearts, the Gorts welcomed hospice into their home, yet again. At the age of 7, Eliza Madeline (better known as Bean Ball) passed away in her home, surrounded by those she loved. Again, this shook the Gorts and everyone that has known them to their cores.
Tim, Regina, and Violet are now a family of three and will forever cherish the memories they made with Gwendolyn and Eliza. In the spirit of taking life in strides and moving forward, the Gorts decided to embark on the Great Grief Roadtrip of 2017. Due to Eliza’s passing, their funds from the hospital were cut off and are currently tied up with Trust Lawyers. They have done everything they can to keep money off of the forefront of their brains, however, the financial burden that has come with the loss of their daughters (medical and funeral bills) is overwhelming.
Acknowledging their needs and getting support from their tribe, they determined it was mandatory to move forward with the Great Grief Roadtrip of 2017. They economically converted Eliza and Gwendolyn’s van into a camper van and headed west. Three weeks into their road trip they found themselves in Portland, visiting Gina’s sister. When it was time to leave, Regina suffered a breakdown that has been a long time coming. As a result, Regina will be resting, recovering, and rejuvenating at Esalen Institute in California. While Tim and Violet stay with friends in Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, this does not come cheap and the expenses are adding up, while their money remains tied up with trust lawyers. They plan to sell their car when they get home to help them get to January, when the trust should be transferred to their name. When the trust in officially transferred, the Gorts have plans in place to use the money to support others that suffer from grief. However, in the meantime they need financial support in order to get the emotional help that they need as they grieve the loss of Gwendolyn, Eliza, and Gina’s father.
This is a family that has welcomed me into their family and taught me everything along the way. Including compassion, moving forward, trusting the universe, and death. They supported me like nobody else could through my grandmother’s death and would do the same for anybody that they meet along the way. If you are able please consider donating to Gort Support and allow Tim, Violet, and Regina to grieve the loss of their girls without adding financial burden to their pile. This is an urgent need as Regina is entering Esalen on Sunday and they are in California needing to return to Michigan.
This is the link to their blog where you can read about their lives from their perspective (including entries from Violet), as well as keep up with them on their journey.
The House of Gort Blog
Organizer
Krysta Lynn
Organizer
Marquette, MI
