Drive and Thrive: G-Babe Needs Your Help!
Gabriela (“G-Babe”) Espino has cerebral palsy but that doesn’t stop her from racing…with some help!
Gabriela and her twin sister were born in May 2013 at 26 weeks gestation. As with all extremely premature infants, both girls experienced serious health challenges upon birth, with the most profound one being Gabriela’s severe brain injury. She is now almost 13 years old and her diagnosis of cerebral palsy means she is quadriplegic. As she gets bigger, her needs grow as well. We are fundraising for a mobility (wheelchair) van for Gabriela and for her ongoing needs.
Updates (9)
July 22, 2026
G-Babe and her family are so enjoying the freedom their new van is giving them, to take G-Babe with them on various errands. Thank you to everyone who gave! The next stage of our fundraiser is to help the Espino family modify their “ordinary” home into a home where G-Babe can comfortably live. 🏡🔨We hope to get started soon on designer/builder plans for home modifications (a personal friend has volunteered his time for this). There is a possibility that a local contractor may discount some of these services, but first we need a plan for what is needed.These are some of home modifications on G-Babe’s parents’ wishlist:bathroom renovation (most urgent, as she no longer fits into their shower with her bathing chair)wider doors throughout the houseoutdoor wheel chair ramp or rampsa deck to make it easier for G-Babe to spend time outdoorslaminate flooring to replace carpeted areas, to make it easier to get her wheelchair through the housea track for the ceiling to help lift/move G-Babe throughout the house, as she gets bigger and heavier!...and a dream item is renovations to open up their tight kitchen area to allow for more cooking, eating and serving space in the area of the house where the whole family spends the most time.Every gift not only helps us work toward this goal, but gives the whole family some relief and hope on their marathon of caring for a teen with severe special needs!
July 2, 2026
🚐 We are so grateful to say that Gabriela and her family received their van (2024 Toyota Sienna with low mileage and wheelchair modifications) with $68,000 from the funds raised here at HHL! Their church added to that amount for the approx. $73,500 purchase. 🏠 We are also grateful that the total cost was less than our estimated $85,000, which means more of the funds raised can go toward their home renovations. Today’s total, $113,687, reflects $45,000 of the promised $60,000 match, which means that $68,687 has been raised from 80+ different donors, as well as a few gifts that have come in separately (see previous post). We are off to a good start for covering home renovations with approx. $45,687 to get us started. Now that the van project is almost completed, we hope can get to work making plans and getting accurate estimates for the renovations.Thank you to each and every one of you who gave to this urgent need!! And thanks to God for bringing so many people together to encourage G-Babe and their family.
Photo Galleries (4)
Guestbook
September 18, 2026
May God bless you all and bring this campaign to a successful close.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Caryn & Chris Garabedian
August 23, 2026
Galatians 2:20-21 & Hebrews 7:25.
Maurice and Stacy Fleming
August 9, 2026
We pray you will have the van soon!
Dana Pappas
