Get Well Gabby Prayer Vigil Slated for Sunday

In mid-May, Phoenixville’s Gabriella “Gabby” Vogel was a typical 5-year-old.

She loves playing on swings, listening to Justin Bieber, and playing with her two sisters.

Then, she started losing her balance. She had trouble seeing. Now, she is in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), diagnosed on June 8 with a rare form of cancer, Intrapontine Glioma.

“It is malignant and explosively aggressive,” Gabby’s uncle Chris wrote on a “Get Well Gabby” Facebook page. “It extends through most areas of her brain, from her brain stem into her cerebrum. Without treatment, her condition will rapidly deteriorate and this disease will take her life in a few weeks.”

Since the diagnosis, it’s been a bevy of tests, prayer and support from the Phoenixville community, which is rallying behind Gabby.

"She's a strong little girl," Andrea Hilborn, who's helping get the word out about Gabby. "Gabby's sotry is met with an overwhelming response."

Schuylkill Elementary raised more than $4,500 for Gabby at a “Go Red for Gabby” event recently. The Coventry Wildcats lacrosse team is holding “A Goal for Gabby” day Saturday, where players will wear pink in support of Gabby. Zion Preschool in Spring City is selling T-shirts for Gabby for $15. Other events will likely pop up as well, and you can find out more on the “Get Well Gabby” Facebook page.

On that page, an outpouring of support shows up daily from those following Gabby’s progress. Her family and friends also write notes to update on Gabby’s condition.

“The sedative burned as they put it in her IV,” John Vogel, Gabby's father, wrote late Friday night. “She cried so much and kept begging for no ouchies. We felt so helpless. All we could do was try to stay strong for her.”

Gabby starts radiation Wednesday, and everyone is praying for a miracle. Messages show up from all over the country on the Facebook page, as people are touched by Gabby’s fight.

“When you get through this as the winner, the doctors will call you the ‘Gabby Miracle,’” Judith wrote.

Referencing Trey Love, who, like Gabby, had a bleak prognosis and is still fighting, Robin noted, “There’s no rule against two miracles in one town!”

On Sun., June 12, a prayer vigil for Gabby will be held inat 2:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend.

If you can’t make it to the vigil, you can make a donation to help out Gabby’s family with mounting medical expenses.

Here is the address if you’d like to write to Gabby or send an e-card through CHOP:

Gabriella Vogel - Room 3S 20

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

34th Street and Civic Center Blvd.

Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399

You can also send her an e-card via the CHOP website: 

http://www.chop.edu/ecards/ecards.cfm