- November 18, 2024
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Gage Gibala sat in a kayak Wednesday morning waiting for the chance to take off and explore the intracoastal waterways in Palm Coast. With his family trailing behind him, he paddled faster and faster, his smile growing larger with each stroke.
For the past 11 months, the 15-year-old’s medical struggle has been traumatic. It started with stomach aches that lasted for long periods of time and progressed to an incorrect diagnosis of anemia. But, a CAT scan in Aug. 2013 revealed that Gibala was suffering from severe Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory, and in his case, life-threatening bowel disease.
He spent the first 8 days after his diagnosis recovering in the hospital but returned twice more due to immediate complications. An abscess was located in his intestine, a mass so large that it put pressure on his nerves and caused numbness in his legs. Doctors removed the abscess and part of Gibala’s intestine, but the surgery didn’t solve his problems. He developed blood clots shortly after his procedure and lost the ability to walk.
Located in land-locked Ohio, the teenager has never been to an ocean beach, but always wanted to visit. He is doing much better now, and this week, thanks to the Kids Wish Network, Gage and his family, including his parents, brother and twin sisters, are enjoying the salty air in Palm Coast with a stay at Hammock Beach Resort and a kayaking adventure with Tropical Kayaks.
“I’m very honored to be part of Gage’s trip,” said Meg Goncalves, of Tropical Kayaks. “In the years that we’ve been here, I think the greatest reward is seeing people that would otherwise not have the chance to go on the water, and the expression on their face when they can come back. Them knowing that they can do things that they didn’t think they could do is one of the most wonderful gifts in the world.”
