CSH Patient, Gabriella Brehm, Selected as 2024 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Regional Champion
Children's Specialized Hospital (CSH) Foundation is proud to announce that Children's Miracle Network Hospitals has selected CSH patient, Gabriella (Gabby) Brehm of Toms River, NJ, as the 2024 Regional Champion representing New Jersey. Gabby will spend the year as an ambassador for both CSH and CMNH, telling her story across the country to show the impact of charitable donations to Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation and all CMNH member hospitals.
Gabby, 14, experienced an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture in her brain while she was running at track practice after school. An otherwise healthy teenager, she didn't understand what was happening to her as her left arm, then leg, went numb and she collapsed to the track. In the ambulance, her mom noticed the left side of her face starting to droop and they knew whatever was happening to Gabby was serious.
After brain surgery to repair the AVM and 19 days without movement on her left side, Gabby was transferred to the CSH inpatient hospital in New Brunswick where she completed a program of physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies designed to help her regain strength and movement on her left side and bring back her (symmetrical) smile. After five weeks at CSH, Gabby was strong enough to walk out of the hospital on her own. Today, she is back to enjoying the life of an average teenager and excited to spread awareness about the importance of charitable donations to Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation.
"Gabby is a truly remarkable young woman," said Alissa Memoli, President and Chief Development Officer at Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation. "After the trauma of the AVM rupture, brain surgery, and almost three weeks in an acute care hospital, she understsandably just wanted to go home. But she put in the work and made an incredible recovery. We're proud to support her this year as an ambassador for Children's Specialized Hospital."