Cesar and Carmen Sanchez with their son Gabe who received a lung transplant.
After baby Gabe was born, Cesar and Carmen could see he wasn’t thriving. After months of tests and anxiety, he was diagnosed with ABCA3 deficiency, a rare condition that required a lung transplant.
The family came from Baltimore to one of our children’s hospitals to get the best possible care. The Gift of Life Family House quickly became their “home away from home.”
While Gabe waited for his life-saving transplant, Cesar says, “My family came every weekend. That gave me the strength to keep going.” And during the transplant surgery, “We had to be in a place that we could feel comfortable, and the hospital wasn’t that place,” Cesar explains. “You need to be home. That’s what we did; we came home. We came here.”
“And Gabe loves the Family House. I remember a day he was so down at the hospital, but as soon as we got to the Family House he was all sparkles.” — Carmen Sanchez
Gabe’s surgery was successful, and he’s doing great today. But he still needs frequent checkups and other care. “To come to a place that is safe for your kid, where people understand that he needs certain care is so important,” Carmen says. “And Gabe loves the Family House. I remember a day he was so down at the hospital, but as soon as we got to the Family House he was all sparkles.”
The family is grateful for hot meals cooked by friendly volunteers, cozy rooms and restful surroundings, and access to a whole community of people who truly understand what they’re going through.
“Knowing that we were able to be in a safe place and bring our family, without going bankrupt, that gave me a lot of relief,” Cesar says.
