It’s been many years since the day Lu Sipos heard the word son and cancer connected. Yet, it’s a day she’ll never forget. “Talking about the day he was diagnosed brings me close to tears. It seems like it happened yesterday and the feelings are still so raw. When you compound that with the emotions of watching Gabe face the long-term effects of treatments, the guilt can become overpowering. When those feelings overwhelm me, I remind myself of the reality that my guilt is a luxury. Gabe is still here,” Lu Sipos says.
Gabe was the first baby of the New Year born in Nashville on January 1, 2002. Almost one year later, Gabe was showing symptoms of enlarged lymph nodes and a newly acquired right lazy eye. He had to go back to the hospital. Antibiotics weren’t working and his symptoms were progressing. A CT scan on Christmas 2002 revealed a large mass in his right sinus cavity resting on his brain and crushing his optic nerve. Only one week shy of his first birthday, Gabe was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant soft tissue tumor, in his sinus cavity. He started weekly chemotherapy treatments for nine consecutive months, thirty radiation treatments, numerous surgeries, and experienced many emotional challenges that go hand-in-hand with a cancer diagnosis.
Finding their way
During this time, Lu explains how her nonprofit, Gabe’s My Heart, began; “We were just trying to find our way the best we could, like everyone else in that situation. Around Easter time someone left this cute, little stuffed duck for Gabe as a gift. I decided that it would be nice for Gabe to be able to be the doctor and then he could take care of the duck as the patient.”
“I asked the nurses if I could take home a pair of hospital pajamas and I sewed the duck a little port and I dressed up Gabe as the doctor,” Lu explains. “The nurses used the duck to show Gabe how he was going to be treated. It became a tool for Gabe to work through some of the frustrations he had. He hated having his blood pressure taken so he would do it to the duck over and over again and it seemed like it really helped him. One of the doctors suggested that I might think about producing the ducks, and that’s how our nonprofit was born.”
Gabe’s My Heart
Gabe’s My Heart is a nonprofit organization that supports children and families living with cancer. It’s also the birthplace of Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program. Gabe’s Chemo Duck is a soft, cuddly, 12-inch-tall educational stuffed animal that likes to wear blue hospital scrubs and a bandana that keeps his head warm. There are two types of Chemo Ducks. One has a Hickman line (also called a Central Line on the chest area) and wears a red bandana. The other Chemo Duck has a Port-A-Cath with a yellow bandana. This one has a small bump under his bandage where the medicine goes when the child is getting medicine in the hospital. All Chemo Ducks have a little cover that goes on their arm called a no-no arm immobilizer that helps hold the IV in place. Chemo Ducks also have deep belly buttons, because that’s where Chemo Duck’s feeding tube goes.
The stuffed animal was developed with the help of child life specialists and medical professionals and works to help introduce children and families to their new life while encouraging healing through the power of play therapy. The organization gives out about 5,000 Chemo Ducks to children per year.
Lights, Camera… Action!
Thankfully, Gabe was declared cancer-free just before his second birthday. Fast forward to 2010, Gabe played the role of Travis in the major motion picture Country Strong, alongside A-list actors Gweneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. In the movie, Travis is a Make-A-Wish recipient with whom Gweneth’s character visits, performs, and ultimately plays a role in transforming the troubled singer’s life. Gabe enjoyed making the movie and shared the Chemo Duck story with everyone involved.
Where is Gabe now?
Gabe is now 20 years old and is a cancer survivor. He still visits the hospital for routine visits and check-ups. He continues to deal with some repercussions from his cancer treatment, including endocrine problems, teeth issues, physical challenges, and facial asymmetry. “All-in-all, he is a healthy and happy young man,” his mom says while smiling. “He excels in math and science and enjoys spending time with friends. Gabe also sits on the Board of Directors for Gabe’s My Heart. He hopes that every child living with cancer will enjoy the benefit of having a Chemo Duck companion. He also hopes that the program serves as a tribute in honor of his friends that passed away.”
Lu says her takeaway from Gabe’s diagnosis is actually Gabe’s takeaway, “When you’re in a situation like he is and he can easily feel sorry for himself, he doesn’t. Instead, he chooses the path of helping other kids and being a survivor.” Today Gabe is a counselor at Camp Horizon, a summer camp for patients that have or are in the process of battling cancer. Lu continues, “Regardless of his trials, he realizes, we both realize, what we have is what so many kids want. We have lost so many friends along the way and we both understand how incredibly precious life is. “
If you’ve been inspired by Gabe and Lu’s story about Gabe’s Chemo Duck and you’re interested in donating a Chemo Duck please go to ChemoDuck.org.
