Gabby - Hangout room, 2020

Gabby is a social, dynamic, and outgoing 17-year-old from St. Frances, MN. Between high school and her job at McDonald’s, Gabby likes to spend time listening to music, shopping, and singing Karaoke with her friends.

In August of 2019, Gabby discovered a grape-sized lump in her neck. Her mom, Sue, took her to the doctor that day and she was immediately transferred to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis and diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. 

The diagnosis seemed awful but the treatment more so. Chemotherapy can affect fertility in women/girls, so Gabby needed to go through two weeks of intense fertility treatments before she could begin four rounds of chemo. She spent a month in the hospital, where they monitored any side effects and managed her treatments.

Gabby’s younger sister, Chloe, struggled with worry and loneliness during Gabby’s illness. Luckily she has awesome parents, Sue and Jon, and they had lots of incredible support from their community!

The St. Frances High School football team wore purple ribbons with her initials and sold raffle tickets to raise money for the family to help with expenses. The basketball team also held a huge fundraiser, sporting “Team Gabby” t-shirts during warm-ups and honoring Gabby during halftime. 

Both Sue and Jon teach at the local elementary school. Their fellow teachers put together a meal train which was incredibly helpful to the family and deeply appreciated. But most heart-warming of all, Gabby’s mom had a 3rd grader who tie-dyed socks and sold them to help his teacher and her family – raising over $500.
The good news in all of this, in January, Gabby was in remission, and in March she was clear of any cancer.

Gracie’s Room partnered with Make-A-Wish Minnesota to create a beautiful teen room for Gabby to spend time with her family and friends watching movies and playing games. This was Gabby’s wish, to have a place to make memories with those most important to her. 

Gracie’s Room was honored to play a role in the creation of this space for Gabby, her family and friends and we wish her the very best during her senior year and beyond!

Kal - Hangout Room, 2020

Kal, an amazing 17yo from Elko, MN is getting a room created in partnership with Gracie’s Room and the Make-A-Wish foundation. We are creating a space in an un-finished part of his family’s basement where he can spend time joking around, gaming, watching movies and hanging out with his close-knit friend group of approximately 15 other boys (they call themselves the NINJAs!) There will be a media center, photo wall of memories of his friends and family and a cozy couch and chairs where he can enjoy special time with family and friends.

Currently a Junior at Lakeville South, Kal plays middle infield for the baseball team. He is a HUGE Yankee’s fan, but of course has a soft spot for our local Twins. His baseball fandom doesn’t stop there, he is an avid college baseball follower too, and roots for the Vanderbilt Commodores every chance he gets.

Kal is intensely close to his sister, Madeleine, who is a Freshman at University of St. Thomas. He also has loving and supportive parents, Paula and Jerry. 

Lucky for him, every year, his fellow baseball enthusiast and Aunt/God Mother Patty, takes him somewhere baseball themed as a special trip they can do together. From the Baseball College World Series to watch Vanderbilt , to watching the Cubs at Wrigley Field, he gets his baseball fix all year long! 

Baseball is not only his main sport, but his outlet for fun within the family, as one afternoon last March (2019) just before tryouts for the Lakeville High School baseball team, he was out back playing catch with his dad, Jerry, when his neck started to bug him. He went inside to tell his mom, when she found a lump and took him to urgent care where he was then transferred to ER in Burnsville, and ultimately transferred to University of Minnesota Oncology, where they found a mass. It was Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. 

April 9th he started 5 rounds of chemo for 8 days every 21 days, followed by 20 sessions radiation. 

Gratefully by October he had a “fairly clear” bill of health and by December he was in full remission. As of March 2020 he has regained the 20lbs he lost and grown his hair back.

Spring baseball has started, and Kal is gearing up for a great season! Gracie’s Room is overjoyed to be able to create a space just for him, where he can continue to spend time with his wonderful family and his “Ninja” boys.

Kal, a baseball enthusiast, discovered a lump in his neck while playing catch with his dad. The soon discovered he had Hodgkins Lymphoma. Fortunately chemo treatments were successful in helping him achieve remission.

Carson - Hangout Room, 2019

Carson is a 16 year old wonder child <3

He was introduced to the Gracie’s Room family from ROMAN, as they are both new heart recipients and their families met through Ronald McDonald House.

Just over two years ago, Carson was on a summer trip with his family in Brainerd when he came into his parent’s room complaining of a headache and stomach-ache. He felt so “off” he insisted on going to the doctor that day – which as it turned out, was a good move because a quick visit to the Urgent Care turned into a helicopter ride to Children’s Minneapolis where it was discovered he was in full blown heart failure.

5 days later he received a brand new heart, but not before he suffered a severe TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) from lack of oxygen to his brain.

The blessing in this story, is that due to genetic testing, it turned out his dad had the same condition and shortly thereafter ALSO received a new heart!

Carson is loved by his Mom, Dad and older sister Delaney.

Stay tuned for more on how Gracie’s Room will be helping him enjoy space with his family and friends.