Update on Gabrielle

Gabrielle is home from the NICU and with her daddy. She left UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday and is doing really well with her daddy at home.

Some people have had asked me questions about Gabrielle and what had happened. Gabrielle was deprived of oxygen during birth. As a result, she had been suffering from occasional seizures. The doctors at UCLA performed an MRI last week and discovered that she has some damage to her lower brain. We won't know what any of this means until her motor skills start developing in two to three months, but the doctors are very encouraged by her progress and the fact that newborns can often heal from things like this. She has been seizure free and was allowed to go home with her daddy on Wednesday. Here she is:



Isn't she beautiful!

Thanks again to everyone who donated money to the memorial fund, formula, gift baskets, gift cards, etc. The out-pour of support has been absolutely amazing. The kindness that people have shown has been absolutely amazing. Thank you so much.

Here is information on how to help:

To mail donations (checks can be made out to The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund), formula checks, diaper coupons, or gift cards, send to:

The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 235971
Encinitas, CA 92023-5971

To send packages (FedEx, UPS, etc.), mail to:

Brandi Futrell
c/o The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund
14928 S. Maple Avenue
Gardena, CA 90248

To contribute via PayPal, that email address is 4jewelyn@gmail.com.

A yard sale to raise money for Gabrielle will also take place on October 18 in Riverside.