Gabby on the mend

Columbia Falls High School senior Gabby DeLorme hopes to be back home and in school in April after battling cancer since August.

DeLorme was diagnosed with leukemia Aug. 7, just two days before the start of football practice. He was sidelined from playing as a safety and wide receiver, and has spent five months at a Seattle Hospital. But, his fight with cancer is not over yet.

He’ll end his last phase of chemotherapy treatment at the end of March, said his father, Dean DeLorme. The last round is similar to the first because it is intense and difficult treatment to get through. However, the young man remains in good spirits.

“He’s hanging in there—it’s hard extremes to go through at that age,” Dean said. “He gets tired a lot more than he was in the beginning.”

Dean stopped working to be with his son during treatment.

“I’m doing the best I can … to survive,” he said. “I’m like him, getting anxious to get this next stage over with.”

The medical staff will monitor him for part of April to make sure he doesn’t have any reactions to the treatment and that his blood count has increased before sending him home.

As soon as they give the OK, he wants to return to school to finish his senior year.

“He’s anxious to get back to school and what he left behind,” Dean said. “We want to get him graduated.”

While in the hospital, DeLorme has continued to do schoolwork using an online program and sometimes attending a small school.

The father and son are humbled by how the community has stepped up with fundraisers and donations. The high school raised $3,400 for DeLorme at the homecoming powderpuff and football games, and at a chili feed and special powderbuff game in November. 

“He’s really appreciated the prayers and support of everyone,” Dean said. He’ll have to continue less invasive chemo treatment once a month while in Montana. 

Friends and community members can continue to support DeLorme’s treatment and travel expenses by going to his GoFundMe account at https://www.gofundme.com/jbbyfbp8.

One of the things DeLorme is looking forward to once back home, is driving a car. Something he hasn’t done since July. 

“It’ll just be awkward for him in the driver’s seat,” Dean said.

But most of all, he misses his friends and classmates, his father said.

“He talks about it a lot,” Dean said.