Benefit auction aims to assist family with cost of medical equipment

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Gabriel Toomey, 11, has undergone two major surgeries to treat his Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that affects muscles and tendons throughout the body.  Submitted photo

GREENFIELD — Gabriel Toomey is a fun-loving 11-year-old student at Greenfield Intermediate School who loves cooking and spending time with his friends. He also suffers from a condition called Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, a rare and often progressive disease that affects muscles including those in the limbs, spine and heart.

Because Gabriel’s condition could worsen without much warning, his parents, Jarod and Kristi Toomey, looked into what they could do to be prepared if he suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest. The obvious solution was an automated external defibrillator, which can be used to restart a stopped heart.

Although it could become a medical necessity at any moment, their insurance through Tricare — Jarod is a sergeant in the Army — would not cover the device unless Gabriel had already had a pacemaker installed and the pacemaker had failed.

To help cover the cost, a family friend and owner of Brandywine Auction Group, Michael Trusty, is putting on a benefit auction Sunday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. The event starts at 11 a.m. 4-H sheep building.

Trusty said his son, Timothy, is close friends with Gabriel. When he saw that Jarod and Kristi had posted a fundraiser for the cost of the AED on Facebook, he wanted to “help pay it forward.”

Trusty said he is aiming to raise $5,000 for the AED and other medical costs. The event will feature a luncheon of ribeye sandwiches and pork burgers, followed by silent and live auctions.

Some of the items auctioned off will be antiques Trusty has acquired, including a 48-star American flag and English riding saddle. Others, including gift cards and vouchers for services, were donated by area businesses such as Strike Force Lanes, Planet Fitness and Riley Park Tire.

Trusty said many people had stepped up to contribute to the auction.

“My employees have been working for free helping with this. Basically, we just want to help this kid,” Trusty said.

Kristi said she knows firsthand how dangerous Gabriel’s condition can be. Her grandfather, who also had Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, died in his early 30s from sudden cardiac arrest.

“Those couple of minutes after someone’s heart stops can be pretty crucial,” Kristi said.

Gabriel has had two surgeries in the past to correct problems with his joints, but because he has yet to experience severe heart problems, Tricare does not cover any preventive cardiac care apart from twice-annual visits to a cardiologist, Kristi said. The coverage limitations exist in spite of the fact it is virtually inevitable that Gabriel will develop severe heart problems, his mother said.

“To me, that is just absolutely ridiculous,” Kristi said.

Kristi described her son as “the sweetest kid ever.” Gabriel has sometimes dealt with exclusion from other students at Greenfield Intermediate, but that Trusty’s son has always been a good friend.

Jarod and Kristi said they were grateful for Trusty’s help and that he took it upon himself to set up the benefit auction.

“It’s almost like a prayer answered that we were able to get this together and that he was willing to help us with this,” Jarod said.

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What: Benefit auction to help the Toomey family of Greenfield raise funds to acquire an automated external defibrillator for their son, Gabriel.

When: 11 a.m. Sunday

Where: 4-H sheep building, Hancock County Fairgrounds

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