It’s safe to say that Wildwood Elementary School student Abby Lacayo will never forget the fifth grade.
That’s because the 10-year-old who grabbed the hearts of Villagers and others from across the world as she battled a rare disease finally got the chance to start school as a healthy student – something she and her family had dreamed about for quite some time.
“Abby has had an amazing first week of school,” her mother Gina said recently, as she recalled the long battle her daughter had with Hereditary Chronic Pancreatitis and gastroparesis and the complicated-but-successful surgery she underwent this past Dec. 12 at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. “She loves her teachers and is so happy to be back with her friends.”
The December surgery required specialists to remove Abby’s pancreas, spleen and gallbladder, while also transplanting islet cells into her liver. She set a goal to be out of the hospital before Christmas – she walked out of the facility on Christmas Eve – and then spent time recuperating at a Ronald McDonald House.
To say that Abby is determined and set on achieving goals would be a huge understatement. Throughout the devastating health issues, she kept a smile on her face and maintained excellent grades. She dealt with extreme pain and shortly after the surgery would suffer from pain, nausea and bouts of vomiting. She went through bouts of terrible anemia. And there was constant wondering about whether the 12-hour procedure would eliminate the gastroparesis and how she would move forward as an insulin-dependent diabetic.
Fast-forward to today and it’s a whole new chapter for Abby. The gastroparesis is a thing of the past, as is the anemia. She’s lost weight and is in a growth spurt. And her body is producing insulin again – too much, amazingly – that hopefully can be regulated by diet.
“A year ago, I couldn’t imagine that she would be doing so well,” Gina said. “We have a whole new outlook on life.”
With her health in order, Abby enjoyed a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando to visit the highly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The day was even more special because she went to the amusement park and rode the Hogwarts Express train alongside her good friend, 12-year-old Bryce Zimmer, of Melbourne, who underwent the same surgery a couple of years ago and has been by Abby’s side throughout her ordeal.
“She loves Harry Potter,” said Gina “We are also reading the books.”
Abby also recently spent some time with members of the Amigos Sports Club – a group that presented her with an iPad and some other gifts prior to her surgery and then sponsored her this past Christmas. During that event, which was held at the Colony Cottage Recreation Center, Abby performed the Village People’s “YMCA” alongside the highly popular Scooter the DJ.
“Abby was the police officer,” Gina said. “She loved dancing and meeting everyone.”
Abby also got to spend time with Amigos members Sharon and Jerry McAdams, who stepped up to sponsor the Lacayo family this past Christmas.
“They even shipped Abby’s gifts to Minnesota, so they went above and beyond,” Gina said. “They said to please think of them as an extra set of grandparents.”
As the first day of school neared earlier this month, Abby visited with Faye Scher, a Village of Gilchrist resident who volunteers at Wildwood Elementary and has been by her side throughout her illness and surgery. Scher had some souvenirs for Abby following a trip to Europe and she also provided her with some school supplies.
“Abby has turned into a butterfly,” said Scher. “She has changed so much since I met her over a year ago. She is bright and healthy now and has taken a growth spurt. Seeing her so eager to get back to class is a blessing.”
Shortly after meeting Abby, Scher started a GoFundMe account to help offset some of the enormous expenses her family was facing. With Abby healthy again and Gina returning to work at Wildwood Elementary School as a pre-K teacher’s assistant, Scher closed the page and offered a huge thanks to everyone who donated a whopping $29,283.
“We have a happy ending,” she said.
Abby’s principal, John Temple, agreed, saying it’s been amazing to watch how far Abby has come.
“You see this young girl full of life and energy go through this extremely trying situation, and you just don’t know how kids will react,” he said. “But to see her start coming through and see her coming back last year, and seeing her this summer, it’s been phenomenal. She’s persevered and she’s still on track with her academics and doing well. She’s going to have an amazing story to tell as she gets older.”
Gina said it’s hard to put into words what seeing Abby’s recovery means to her and her husband, Denis.
“I went from sitting on a hospital floor crying, thinking that getting Abby help was impossible, to now our daughter is almost completely healthy,” she said. “That’s something I thought I would never be able to say.”
As for those who have stepped up in so many ways to help, Gina said she will remain forever grateful.
“We wouldn’t have been able to get Abby the help she needed without the help and kindness of so many people,” she said. “I will be paying forward their kindness for the rest of my life.”