PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE POST...Not sure where to begin...since the last time we posted, life has continued and in many cases that stinks! That means Gabe is older...which means the disease has progressed one more year and that is one more year that has passed with Gabe. We have great memories of him winning the Cub Scout Derby Car race for Pack 007 and 3rd at the district race (the Caldarellos rule!)...WHOHOOOO! But the harsh reality of the disease is that Gabe is one year older (7), one year weaker, one more year mature which means asking questions difficult to answer, one more year of Traci and I asking “WHY”, and one year more praying with every thing we are that God provides an answer! Don’t get me wrong, there have been many unbelievable things that have happen over the last year that are positive and here are a few. The Red Shamrock has flourished and the ceiling continues to be covered with money for the Hope for Gabe Foundation! Gravlee Fitness in Mt. Laurel put on a run for our foundation and raised a significant amount of money during our St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Spain Park baseball once again supported H4G with a “Gabe Day” versus Mt. Brook in baseball at Spain Park. Many children held birthdays and instead of gifts decided to do “Gifts for Gabe” where the money for gifts was donated for Gabe. The American Two - All Star Team donated the remaining balance of their baseball fund to H4G (thanks to Coach Tolbert). Ben Cohen and his BCAA athletes were involved in fundraising and a T-Shirt campaign at their respective schools in the Birmingham area. The Chelsea 6th Grade Competitive football team (thanks to Coach Johnny Howard) had shirts made for this season that say H4G on the back. The Shelby Surge and Double Oak Mountain Travel Ball baseball teams wore H4G on their jerseys/hat/batting helmets (thanks to Coach Will Griffin and Coach Eric Vice). The Oak Mountain National All Star team wore H4G stickers on their batting helmets (thanks to Coach Craig Yancey). The Oak Mountain/Heardmont Texas Rangers 8 year old team wore H4G shirts instead of jerseys in a game to raise awareness (thanks to Coach John Chitwood). Ryan Lochte (Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer) wore the H4G shirt while in LA. AJ McCarron (Bama QB) wore the H4G wristband and T-shirt to spread awareness during the Alabama vs. Auburn week in 2011. Nashville song writer and singer Wade Quick wore the H4G shirt while performing in Nashville. Taylor Arnette, Entertainment Tonight Teen Correspondent, wore the H4G band, T-shirt, and did a Public Service Address for H4G!! Andy Johnson, friend of H4G, utilized many social media avenues to raise over $600 for H4G (all the money is on the ceiling at The Red Shamrock)! Tom Royster and the Chelsea Basketball League raised over $1,300 for H4G (which some of the money is on the ceiling at The Red Shamrock)! There are many other positive things that have taken place and I am sure I have missed a few...But the harsh reality is Gabe is one year older and the disease has progressed one year further. September 21 marks the one year anniversary of us stopping the use of steroids on Gabe. Each day that goes by Traci and I discuss steroids...I am not sure what the right answer is...I just know the side effects are horrible and the year that Gabe was on them he was not our little Gabey! Since being off steroids, he has learned more in school and faster, his behavior has been unbelievable, he has become a loving little boy, he has grown, he no longer has hair on his back, but he has gotten weaker. However, we believe because of VECTTOR (the electrical stem machine Gabe is on every night) Gabe is not near as weak as he could be. We believe Gabe on VECTTOR alone versus Gabe on nothing is stronger and continues to improve. We are excited to be on the verge of funding a 12 month clinical trial for VECTTOR in which Gabe WILL NOT participate as he cannot per our foundation by-laws. I am anxious to get this under way and to see the results! Gabe’s siblings continue to be very active in basketball, baseball, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc. On an awesome note, Gabe is still busy just being a little boy who loves video games and is unbelievable at them! Though the questions get tougher his smile makes me forget just how devastating this disease is...for a second! Then reality hits again. I mentioned Andy Johnson previously...Andy is someone who heard of Gabe and his fight through our Pub, The Red Shamrock. Andy has become a man on a mission and for that we are forever grateful! He came up with an idea to raise money as he has done in the past for other causes. Once he heard about Gabe he abandoned the other causes to focus his attention on Duchenne! And boy are we lucky! Andy believes that through the use of social media and folks like you we can raise $500,000 to fight Duchenne and for H4G!!! Time is ticking and it is now time to get to serious work! He has developed a site at: http://www.indiegogo.com/h4g?a=1336799 to raise awareness and money to help beat what has been an unbeatable disease. I met Andy several months ago and he said what did it for him was Gabe’s picture (above) where he is holding the sign that simply says “Thanks for giving me hope! I will end Duchenne!” It continues to amaze me what impact Gabe has on total strangers. I hope this continues and I hope that each of you will spread the word and share the above link with EVERYONE you know. Let’s help Gabe...because together, I believe WE CAN end Duchenne! Gabe’s Daddy
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