Gabe, our brilliant, bubbly, only child, had been very healthy until the age of seven, when mysterious things began happening to his body. Starting with the inability to use his right arm, then swelling of his feet, Gabe endured other baffling symptoms for three painful months. Upon  seeing a rheumatologist for an evaluation, a more serious concern arose. Gabe underwent a bone marrow biopsy, “just to rule out cancer”. However, on March 12, 2013, the biopsy proved Gabe to have 97% leukemic cells in his marrow. He was to start induction chemotherapy immediately for B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We were blindsided by this diagnosis after his atypical presentation of the disease and thus began Gabe’s journey of the fight of his life.  

Gabe battled for three and a half years at Dayton Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, including a prolonged stay in ICU  and isolation due to chemo shutting down his liver. Gabe fought the fight hard with the support of his family and team and as of July 2016 is in remission. Gabe is now a seventh grader at Kettering Middle School and is healthy, active, and grateful.  He enjoys wrestling, cooking, and spending time with his dog, Jackson. His courage, tenacity, and radiant spirit continue to inspire us and all who know him.  Gabe truly is our “Boy of the Year.”