Her Name Is Gabby.Her Condition Is Mitochondrial Disease.
Her Message Is Hope.
Meet Gabrielle Hanlon – her hearty laugh, her beautiful smile and her undeniable warmth – and most of all, her remarkable will to not just survive, but thrive, despite suffering from mitochondrial disease. Mitochondria are the “energy factories” present in every cell. They process oxygen, convert food substances into energy and carry out essential cell functions. Mitochondrial disease is the failure of these mechanisms, resulting in cell injury and even cell death. When this happens throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the health of the individual is drastically compromised. Although Gabby is totally dependent on her parents and nursing staff, she does attend a special-needs class in Brownsburg and accompanies the family on outings. That kind of fighting spirit deserves immense admiration. And this child deserves every chance we can give her to carry her message of hope for years to come.
The Hanlons.A Crash Course In Genetics And An Enduring Lesson In Determination.
There’s dad (Mike), mom (Penny), Gabrielle, her two brothers (Andrew & Josh) and her sister (Grace). They are a family in the deepest sense of the word, sharing everything life has to offer, including pure joy and unbearable pain. They experienced the latter most dramatically when they lost their second child, Jessica, at the age of ten months. It was later determined that mitochondrial disease was a contributing factor in her death. Aside from Gabby, the other children have not yet shown signs of the illness, although they might be afflicted, as this condition is hereditary. But all you really need to know to understand the Hanlons (and, very likely, why Gabby has defied the odds) is summed up in their motto: “Too blessed to be stressed. Life is good,” They don’t ask “Why us?” but only what they can do to make Gabby’s life as full as possible. And all we ask is that you help.
To Build This House, The First Tool You Pick Up Is A Pen.The challenge is simple: the Hanlon’s current house is not totally wheelchair accessible. Gabby must be carried from room to room and lowered into the shower harness chair, as her wheelchair cannot fit in the bathroom. A complete overhaul is not practical, so the decision has been made to build a new house.
CSO Architects has partnered with CP Morgan to design a house to meet Gabby’s needs.
They will also work with Samantha’s House Foundation to raise the funds to make this house a reality. The total project costs are currently estimated at $200,000.
Financing for the project will come from private donations as well as a mortgage held by the Hanlon’s. Samantha’s House Foundation is 501C3 non-profit organization that helps special needs people of Central Indiana improve their surroundings and make their everyday life a little easier.
A house goes up one brick at a time, one board at a time. And, in this case, one contribution at a time. Can Gabby count on yours?
