| LETTER FROM A FATHER |
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Director of Theatre,
Salina South High School
Hi Kate:
If you would, please share this with the other students who were in the Jellybean
Conspiracy, hopefully when Gabby isn't there.
Roni and I wish to thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you did
for Gabby in helping her to star in the biggest thing she's ever been in. I hope that the
message derived from the play, about viewing life from another’s eyes, will never be
forgotten. You made a profound impact on your audiences; hopefully they will also see
things in a total perspective, that is to say, to not be judgmental when seeing someone
who is "different". I wish to now share with you Gabby's story, so you can fully
understand why this play meant so much to her, and to us.
Unlike a Down Syndrome child, Gabby was born normal,
that is to say, without any birth defects. In fact,
she was gifted, grasping concepts and achieving
infantile goals much more quickly than most infants.
She talked, and walked very early, and was well on
her way to an advanced life.
Gabby was diagnosed with JODM (Juvenile Onset Diabetes Mellitus) at age 15 months.
The diagnosis was crushing, but was only the beginning of a perilous journey. The
morning after her diagnosis, Gabby was rushed from the Pediatric unit to the ICU. She
had developed a deadly condition known as DKA (Diabetic Keto-Acidosis), where when
the body's cells can't get glucose (blood sugar) into them (due to lack of insulin, or
inability to utilize what the body makes), the body breaks down fat cells for fuel.
When this occurs, with a greatly elevated blood sugar, ketones and acetone are formed.
This is a highly toxic mixture, and often is fatal. Gabby had acute cerebral edema
(fluid build-up on her brain), which caused her to have kidney failure. The pressure on
the brain caused other organ systems to also shut down. When Gabby was brought down
from Peds, she was full Code Blue (respiratory and cardiac failure). Technically, she
was dead. The pressure alone caused permanent brain damage; she also had a stroke
which left her blind, deaf, and partially paralyzed for several days after the Code Blue
incident.
Gabby was as close to irreversible death as one can come without actually dying
permanently. Her vision has never fully recovered, nor has her ability to fully
concentrate or comprehend. For many years, she lived in the world of acute autism,
where she communicated by singing T.V. commercial jingles, waving her hands in a flying
way, and yelling "Ahhhhhhhhh", completely oblivious of the world around her. The
experts said she would never, as Gran said in the play, read a book. Gabby has read
many books. They said she would never come out of the shell of autism, that she would
always be in a semi vegetative state, and that she would never be able to do anything
that normal kids would do. Gabby sings in vocal music and loves it, and thanks to all of
your support, she rose above the inability to do "anything", and did something
wonderful that touched the hearts of many. Indeed, she proved once again, that
everyone has a special gift; sometimes it's hard to see or to believe that it can be
there, but it is there.
I wanted to tell her story to the crowd, so they too would understand the true impact
This play has had on my daughter, but the pain is too much to bear in public.
Indeed, I sit here writing this, a 41 year old man, with tears running down my face as I
re-live those painful times in the past, but at the same time I hold my head high with
pride in what Gabby has accomplished.
Please understand that your involvement in the Jellybean Conspiracy means far more
than just having been in a play, you gave a very special someone her chance to stand up
and be counted. I will never forget what you did for her. Thank you all so very much.
Bless you all in the light of the Creator,
Dewey E. Boss.
Salina South High School
Hi Kate:
If you would, please share this with the other students who were in the Jellybean
Conspiracy, hopefully when Gabby isn't there.
Roni and I wish to thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you did
for Gabby in helping her to star in the biggest thing she's ever been in. I hope that the
message derived from the play, about viewing life from another’s eyes, will never be
forgotten. You made a profound impact on your audiences; hopefully they will also see
things in a total perspective, that is to say, to not be judgmental when seeing someone
who is "different". I wish to now share with you Gabby's story, so you can fully
understand why this play meant so much to her, and to us.
Unlike a Down Syndrome child, Gabby was born normal,
that is to say, without any birth defects. In fact,
she was gifted, grasping concepts and achieving
infantile goals much more quickly than most infants.
She talked, and walked very early, and was well on
her way to an advanced life.
Gabby was diagnosed with JODM (Juvenile Onset Diabetes Mellitus) at age 15 months.
The diagnosis was crushing, but was only the beginning of a perilous journey. The
morning after her diagnosis, Gabby was rushed from the Pediatric unit to the ICU. She
had developed a deadly condition known as DKA (Diabetic Keto-Acidosis), where when
the body's cells can't get glucose (blood sugar) into them (due to lack of insulin, or
inability to utilize what the body makes), the body breaks down fat cells for fuel.
When this occurs, with a greatly elevated blood sugar, ketones and acetone are formed.
This is a highly toxic mixture, and often is fatal. Gabby had acute cerebral edema
(fluid build-up on her brain), which caused her to have kidney failure. The pressure on
the brain caused other organ systems to also shut down. When Gabby was brought down
from Peds, she was full Code Blue (respiratory and cardiac failure). Technically, she
was dead. The pressure alone caused permanent brain damage; she also had a stroke
which left her blind, deaf, and partially paralyzed for several days after the Code Blue
incident.
Gabby was as close to irreversible death as one can come without actually dying
permanently. Her vision has never fully recovered, nor has her ability to fully
concentrate or comprehend. For many years, she lived in the world of acute autism,
where she communicated by singing T.V. commercial jingles, waving her hands in a flying
way, and yelling "Ahhhhhhhhh", completely oblivious of the world around her. The
experts said she would never, as Gran said in the play, read a book. Gabby has read
many books. They said she would never come out of the shell of autism, that she would
always be in a semi vegetative state, and that she would never be able to do anything
that normal kids would do. Gabby sings in vocal music and loves it, and thanks to all of
your support, she rose above the inability to do "anything", and did something
wonderful that touched the hearts of many. Indeed, she proved once again, that
everyone has a special gift; sometimes it's hard to see or to believe that it can be
there, but it is there.
I wanted to tell her story to the crowd, so they too would understand the true impact
This play has had on my daughter, but the pain is too much to bear in public.
Indeed, I sit here writing this, a 41 year old man, with tears running down my face as I
re-live those painful times in the past, but at the same time I hold my head high with
pride in what Gabby has accomplished.
Please understand that your involvement in the Jellybean Conspiracy means far more
than just having been in a play, you gave a very special someone her chance to stand up
and be counted. I will never forget what you did for her. Thank you all so very much.
Bless you all in the light of the Creator,
Dewey E. Boss.
