Who is Gabriel?

Gabriel is a bright, kind-hearted 12-year-old who loves video games, pickleball, and spending time with his family. Like most kids his age, he dreams of hanging out with friends, going to school, playing sports, having fun at trampoline parks, and simply enjoying childhood.

But over the past year, Crohn's disease has transformed his life into one filled with hospital stays, emergency surgery, medications, daily health challenges, and a much closer relationship with the porcelain throne than any 12-year-old should ever have.

Through it all, Gabriel continues to face each day with remarkable courage, resilience, and an infectious smile that reminds us why we're fighting so hard for him.

What diagnosis does Gabriel have?

Gabriel has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the digestive tract. Crohn's disease can lead to inflammation anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract and often causes severe pain, bleeding, fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, and other serious complications.

At this time, there is no known cure for Crohn's disease.

How has Crohn's disease affected Gabriel?

Since his diagnosis, Gabriel has experienced significant medical challenges, including:

• Hospitalization
• A painful perianal abscess requiring emergency surgery
• Blood in his stool
• Ongoing intestinal inflammation
• Nutritional concerns
• Missed school and activities
• Numerous specialist appointments, procedures, and laboratory testing
• Daily medications and monitoring
• Side effects from prolonged steroid use

Beyond the physical symptoms, Crohn's disease has affected nearly every aspect of Gabriel's childhood.

What treatments has Gabriel already tried?

Before considering stem cell therapy, Gabriel has undergone extensive conventional medical treatment, including:

• Prednisone (steroid therapy): Because Gabriel cannot swallow the pills, each dose must be crushed and placed into capsules before he can take it.
• Humira (adalimumab): A weekly injection Gabriel administers himself to help control his disease.
• Nutritional support
• A complete overhaul of his diet
• Care from pediatric gastroenterology specialists
• Frequent laboratory monitoring
• Emergency surgery to treat a Crohn's-related abscess
• Ongoing medical management

Stem cell therapy was not our first course of action, and the decision to pursue it was not an impulsive one We are pursuing it after extensive research, and because Gabriel continues to experience significant symptoms despite conventional treatment.

Why not simply continue Humira?

Humira has helped many patients living with Crohn's disease, and Gabriel continues to receive this medication. However, despite treatment, he has continued to experience significant disease activity and has remained dependent on steroids to help control his symptoms.

Long-term steroid use carries serious risks, especially for a growing child. After extensive research, conversations with medical professionals, and much prayer, we decided to pursue stem cell therapy as an additional treatment option—not as a replacement for traditional medical care, but in hopes of giving Gabriel the best opportunity for improved health and a better quality of life.

---

About the Stem Cell Treatment

Gabriel is pursuing treatment using umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at Better Being Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

These stem cells are obtained from donated umbilical cord tissue following healthy, full-term births delivered by planned Cesarean section. They are expanded under carefully controlled, sterile laboratory conditions and administered by experienced physicians.

Why are stem cells being considered?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently being studied because they may help:

• Reduce inflammation
• Regulate an overactive immune response
• Support tissue repair and healing
• Improve quality of life
• Potentially help patients achieve longer periods of remission

Although stem cell therapy continues to be actively researched, our family believes it offers hope for reducing the inflammation that conventional treatments have not fully controlled.

Will this treatment cure Gabriel's Crohn's?

No.

There is currently no known cure for Crohn's disease.

The goal of stem cell therapy is to reduce inflammation, encourage healing, improve quality of life, and potentially help Gabriel achieve longer-lasting remission.

Because every patient responds differently, no specific outcome can ever be guaranteed.

Is this treatment approved?

Stem cell therapy is an active area of medical research around the world.

Certain stem cell therapies have received regulatory approval in some countries for specific Crohn's-related conditions, while broader applications remain investigational.

Gabriel's treatment will be provided under the supervision of Dr. Worawit Kittisakronnakorn, who has more than 14 years of experience providing regenerative medicine therapies, including treatment for pediatric patients.

Why isn't this treatment available in the United States?

Medical regulations differ from country to country.

Many regenerative medicine therapies become available internationally before becoming widely accessible in the United States. Families seeking these treatments often travel abroad to specialized medical centers with experience in regenerative medicine.

Why did your family choose Better Being Hospital?

We spent months researching clinics around the world before making our decision.

Better Being Hospital stood out because of its:

• Physician-led treatment program
• Laboratory standards
• Safety protocols
• Experience treating inflammatory diseases
• Experience treating pediatric patients
• Commitment to individualized patient care

We carefully reviewed available information, spoke with medical professionals and treatment coordinators, and compared clinics in multiple countries before deciding this hospital was the best fit for Gabriel.

What evidence supports stem cell therapy?

Researchers around the world continue studying mesenchymal stem cells for Crohn's disease.

Published studies suggest MSCs may help reduce inflammation and promote healing for some patients. While early results are encouraging, researchers continue to study which patients benefit most and what long-term outcomes may be.

How did you decide this was the right treatment?

We spent months researching treatment options, reviewing published medical literature, speaking with physicians and treatment coordinators, and learning from families who have pursued similar therapies.

We understand that stem cell therapy is not guaranteed to work. After carefully weighing the potential risks, possible benefits, and Gabriel's current medical condition, we believe it offers him one of the best opportunities to improve his quality of life.

---

Safety Considerations

Are these embryonic stem cells?

No.

Gabriel's treatment uses mesenchymal stem cells collected from donated umbilical cord tissue after healthy births.

No embryos are involved.

Is anyone harmed in obtaining these stem cells?

No.

Umbilical cords are typically discarded after birth. Families who choose to donate them provide informed consent so the tissue may be used for medical treatment and research.

Are the stem cells tested?

Yes.

According to Better Being Hospital, donated stem cells undergo rigorous testing, including:

• Infectious disease screening
• Sterility testing
• Quality control
• Cell viability testing

Are there risks?

As with any medical treatment, stem cell therapy carries risks.

Potential risks may include:

• Infusion reactions
• Fever
• Headache
• Temporary fatigue
• Infection
• No improvement in symptoms

Our family understands there are no guarantees, and we have carefully weighed the potential risks and benefits before making this decision.

After months of research, conversations with medical professionals, and careful consideration, we believe that pursuing this treatment offers Gabriel a meaningful opportunity for improved health. We also had to consider the very real risks of allowing his Crohn's disease to remain active despite conventional treatment. Ongoing, uncontrolled Crohn's disease can lead to serious complications, including severe malnutrition, impaired growth and development, repeated hospitalizations, intestinal damage requiring surgical removal of portions of the bowel, and, in some cases, the need for a temporary or permanent colostomy or ileostomy.

While we recognize that stem cell therapy is not guaranteed to help Gabriel, we believe it is a risk worth taking in hopes of preventing further damage from this disease and giving him the chance to enjoy a healthier childhood.

Why pursue this treatment now?

Gabriel has already endured significant medical challenges despite receiving conventional treatment.

Our hope is to give him the best opportunity possible to experience improved health, fewer complications, and a better quality of life as he enters his teenage years.

---

Financial Questions

Why is the treatment so expensive?

The total cost includes much more than the stem cells themselves.

Expenses include physician care, stem cell preparation, laboratory testing, medical evaluations, infusions, hospital fees, medications, travel, lodging, meals, transportation, and follow-up care.

How much are you trying to raise?

Our fundraising goal is $43,754.

What will donations be used for?

Every donation will go directly toward Gabriel's treatment journey, including medical treatment, travel, lodging, testing, follow-up care, and other treatment-related expenses.

What happens if more money is raised than needed?

Any additional funds will first be used for future Crohn's-related medical expenses and additional treatments recommended by Gabriel's physicians. Should any of the contributed monies remain after Gabriel's treatment, they will be passed along to another family who may have a child facing a similar medical diagnosis.

Will insurance cover this treatment?

Unfortunately, no.

Because this treatment is not covered by insurance, our family is seeking financial assistance through fundraising.

Are donations tax deductible?

Yes.

We are grateful to offer a tax-deductible giving option through Connecting Families, a ministry founded by our treatment coordinator, Dr. Timothy Conkling. For many years, Connecting Families has helped international refugees, families facing medical emergencies, and those experiencing financial hardship.

Donations made through Connecting Families may be tax deductible as allowed by law. We encourage donors to consult their tax advisor regarding their individual tax situation.

---

Progress & Updates

How will donors know how Gabriel is doing?

We are committed to keeping everyone updated throughout Gabriel's journey.

We plan to share updates on this website:

• Before treatment
• During treatment
• After treatment
• During recovery
• Throughout his continued progress

Your support makes you part of Gabriel's story, and we want you to celebrate every milestone with us.

What happens after treatment?

Following treatment, Gabriel will continue receiving care from his medical team through follow-up appointments, laboratory testing, symptom monitoring, nutritional support, and any additional care recommended by his physicians.

What if the treatment doesn't work?

We sincerely hope this treatment provides meaningful improvement, but we recognize that medicine cannot promise specific results.

Regardless of the outcome, we will know we pursued every reasonable opportunity to help Gabriel have the healthiest future possible.

How else can I help if I can't donate?

There are many meaningful ways you can support Gabriel:

• Share his story
• Pray for Gabriel and our family
• Introduce us to potential supporters
• Organize a fundraiser
• Send Gabriel words of encouragement

Every act of kindness brings hope.

---

A Personal Message

We know there are many worthy causes in the world, and we are deeply grateful that you have taken the time to learn about Gabriel's journey.

Our dream isn't extraordinary. It's beautifully ordinary.

We want Gabriel to wake up without pain. To attend school consistently. To play pickleball with friends. To enjoy trampoline parks without worrying about the nearest bathroom. To travel without fear. To celebrate birthdays, holidays, and milestones without Crohn's disease stealing the joy from those moments.

We know there are no guarantees, but we believe hope is worth pursuing.

Thank you for walking beside our family and helping us give Gabriel every opportunity for a healthier future.

James Newcomb and Troye Levin-Whiting
Gabriel's parents