Meet Gabbie and Her Family
Gabbie is a 34-year-old mom living with Stage IV breast cancer, raising three children alongside her husband: Gisela, Ezekiel, and Alora Grace.
Her journey has been anything but easy. After her cancer returned, Gabbie faced life-threatening complications and multiple hospitalizations that deeply impacted her entire family. The reality of ongoing, lifelong treatment has been difficult to process, especially for her children, who have had to ask questions no child should have to ask.
There are days when the weight of treatment feels overwhelming. Days when simply getting out of bed feels impossible. Yet through it all, Gabbie continues to fight, holding onto hope and leaning into her faith as she navigates each step forward.
Her story is also shaped by her past. Gabbie lost her own mother to cancer when she was just 13 years old. That loss has stayed with her, influencing how she now approaches her own diagnosis. Where her mother once heard a terminal prognosis, Gabbie hears something different: hope.
She is determined to change the narrative for her children. To show them that even in the face of Stage IV cancer, there can still be life, resilience, and joy.
Their One Day to Remember
For their One Day to Remember, Gabbie and her family traveled to a magical theme park experience in California, a place filled with wonder, imagination, and moments that felt larger than life.
The day was nothing short of extraordinary. They spent time riding attractions, watching shows, and sharing meals together, fully immersed in an environment designed for joy and escape. For once, cancer was not the focus. Instead, it was laughter, excitement, and the simple magic of being together.
Every detail was taken care of, from food to travel to experiences, allowing Gabbie and her husband to relax in a way they hadn’t been able to in a long time. Her husband especially felt relieved. He knew the day was not a financial burden and gave them the freedom to fully enjoy the experience.
The memories of the day were beautifully captured by photographer Mandalee Photography, preserving moments of joy that will last a lifetime.
More Than Just One Day
The most meaningful part of the experience for Gabbie was seeing her children truly happy and relaxed.
Their smiles on the rides, their laughter during the shows, and the excitement they carried throughout the day were moments she will never forget. After so much heaviness, seeing her children experience pure joy felt like a gift.
For Gabbie, who spends so much of her time in treatment and often attends appointments alone due to distance, the day offered something rare: togetherness without stress.
It was a chance to be present, to be a mom in the fullest sense, and to create memories that reflected life beyond cancer.
Why This Day Mattered
Gabbie shared that her entire cancer journey feels like redemption.
She is living in a time where medicine offers hope, where her cancer is responding to treatment in ways that are rare and remarkable. She holds onto that truth as she continues to fight, not just for herself, but for her children and the legacy she is building for them.
She hopes that one day, her children will look back and remember not just the illness, but the way she lived. That despite the fear, the hospitalizations, and the uncertainty, she chose to fight, to show up, and to live fully in the moments she had.
This One Day to Remember was exactly that, a moment where her family could step off the rollercoaster of cancer and into something beautiful.
Gabbie described the experience as a blessing. A day where her family felt cared for, supported, and even spoiled in the best way. A day where love showed up in every detail.
At One Day to Remember, this is why we exist: to give families like Gabbie’s the opportunity to step away from the weight of illness and into moments that remind them life is still full of joy, connection, and possibility.
One Day to Remember was a blessing! I have stage IV breast cancer. It's a rollercoaster that you wish you could get off of. But, One Day to Remember completely took care of my family in providing us with a dreamy day. From food, to gas, to tickets we were spoiled rotten. And I cannot forget the photography session. We had the best photographer. The entire team at One Day to Remember is quick, responsive, and filled with love.
Thank you so much to the entire organization and donors.
- Gabbie A