Our Angel, Gabriel Reid

Brandy Sunshine Reid is organizing this fundraiser.

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Dear Family/Friends/Associates and General Public,

It is with heartfelt sadness and devastation that we share with you the grave news about Gabriel Reid. Gabriel was diagnosed with two rare and fast-growing cancerous tumors, giant cell glioblastoma brain tumor grade 4 and Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT) and is currently in palliative care and hospice. We are asking for assistance for funeral costs as well as assistance with day-to-day expenses as Brandy has been out of work in order to take care of Gabriel. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

On October 7, 2017, shortly after Gabriel’s 5th birthday, Gabriel was experiencing a severe headache. Initially the doctors didn’t know what was causing him pain and discomfort. The family was referred to the hospital where a CT scan was performed and a tumor was discovered. The next day, Gabriel had an MRI followed by surgery on October 12th. In less than two years, Gabriel received two resection of tumors (two brain surgeries to remove tumors), 31 doses of proton radiation, 4 rounds of high-dose chemotherapy, 3 rounds of high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell and recently he had an ETV surgery to help with the pressure buildup in his brain from his current tumor.

After a relatively short time with this illness, Gabriel’s current prognosis is that his cancer keeps recurring in spite of all the treatments. The doctors don't believe that any more surgeries, radiation, or chemotherapy treatments will stop his disease from progressing. We have been told that Gabriel will pass away within a matter of weeks to a few months due to the fast nature of the tumors growth. Gabriel is currently in palliative care and hospice.

About Gabriel
Gabriel is a very articulate child. He loves cars, Paw Patrol and building houses with Legos. Gabriel is a very neat and tidy child and hates being dirty. He absolutely loves music and has been dancing since he was a baby. Gabriel is a sensitive child, very much in touch with his emotions and is able to explain exactly how he feels especially if someone hurts his feelings. He's a true romantic; he enjoys taking his mom out on dates and dressing up. He loves picking flowers and sharing them with loved ones. Gabriel has the gift of gab, he’s able to engage in thought-provoking conversation with anyone who is willing to listen.

For Gabriel’s Make-a-Wish he wanted a Disney Avatar baby doll. When he became a “father” of this baby he made sure that everybody played their part and that the baby was cared for, fed changed and went to sleep with him every night. He even went as far as wanting a mother for his baby. He wanted to ask his friend who also had a brain tumor and was going through radiation with him, to marry him so that the baby would have a mother. That’s typical Gabriel, he is such a loving child.

Gabriel is so strong and so very determined. Through the end, he continued to push through and fight for his life.

(Gabriel with his older sister, Octavia)

About Brandy Reid (Gabriel’s Mom)
Brandy is a single mom of two kids (Octavia, 13 and Gabriel, 6) and a developmental Aide for special needs youth. Since learning of Gabriel’s diagnosis, Brandy was devastated, but now she is able to see everything as a blessing and has learned to appreciate life a lot more. As a family, they have been advocating on behalf of Gabriel and during that time she has learned that she had a purpose and was supposed to be his mother. She also realizes that listening to her child is what helped him stay alive this long. Being Gabriel’s advocate made her strong in heart and spirit and she is doing everything she can for him. However, as a low income, single parent, it has been very difficult. With the frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, medical treatments, supplies, transportation and now funeral costs, it has been very trying emotionally and financially. Additionally, Brandy’s daughter, Octavia suffers from depression and anxiety. During this whole process with Gabriel, she’s had to make sure that she too was taken care of and that her mental health needs were being met because she struggled quite a bit and was in and out of the hospital herself for depression related issues.