Gabe Cena: Student wins Staph battle

Gabe Cena's home from May until October was St. Louis Children's Hospital and the pediatric hospital about 20 minutes away.

The seventh-grader's grandfather said he still doesn't know if doctors specifically identified the tyype of staph infection Gabe developed in his knee while playing outside.

Gabe spent his entire summer vacation in the hospital before returning to his real home before Halloween. He is thankful to be home.

The Jackson Middle School student said he missed his mother the most. Daily calls to his mom and grandma helped him through the frustration of being bedridden and not knowing if he would be able to use his leg again.

"That was the scariest part," he said.

The knee infection led to a drastic drop in blood pressure and shut down major organs, resulting in an emergency airlift to Children's Hospital. Numerous treatments to remove the infection plus antibiotics were used to try and conquer the stubborn and serious condition. Gabe is still on antibiotics and will have regular visits to the doctors who treated him in St. Louis.

Homecoming for Gabe was Oct. 30 and since he's still on crutches, his cousins and family went trick-or-treating for him while he passed out candy.

Gabe's principal at Jackson Middle School, Rodney Pensel, said, "It was really good to see him back. He has really grown. We kept it pretty low-key because he is only going partial days until he regains his strength. His friends were certainly glad to see him."

For Gabe's grandfather, Chuck James, it's a relief to have him home. "I was mainly worried about him losing the leg. If we hadn't got him to the hospital when we did he would've been dead." James said

Gabe hated the therapy in the hospital and said the five-day-a week half hour therapy sessions in Jackson are painful. He said therapy includes walking on it and bending his leg.

"This Thanksgiving makes us a little bit more thankful," said James, who takes Gabe to school, therapy and youth group meetings. Gabe resides with his grandparents, Chuck and Sally, in Fruitland.

And Gabe, who lost 30 lbs. since his five month stay at the hospital, has good reason to indulge in everything on the table.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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