The C.H. Berry American Legion Post 173 in Tamaqua hosted participants of a recent motorcycle run to benefit Gabriel Yeager, a 2-year-old Schuylkill County boy who has a rare disease.

“I can’t say enough about the people at the Legion,” said Gabriel’s mother, Dawn Kroh of Minersville. “They are just a phenomenal group. They’ve become family to me. They just wanted to know and meet Gabriel and learn his story.”

Gabriel’s story began before he was born.

Dawn was 22 weeks pregnant and excited to see the results of her baby’s ultrasound. She recalled how a doctor became solemn while discussing his findings with her and Gabriel’s father, Derrick Yeager. At that point, the two knew something was wrong.

Dawn was sent for more tests.

The results were devastating. Not only did a doctor say that their unborn child had a host of extreme medical conditions, the couple was told that he only had a 5% chance of surviving. They were told that if they didn’t terminate the pregnancy, they should seek palliative care for his last moments.

“I don’t remember much after that. We went outside the building and were hysterically crying,” Dawn said.

After some thought and lots of mourning for a baby who might not make it, she and Derrick decided to get a second opinion.

“Sometimes people get it wrong in life but even if it was only 5%, we were giving that to Gabriel,” Dawn said.

They went to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where Dawn underwent four hours of ultrasounds.

And this time, they were told that the baby’s chance of survival was perfect but that he had something called FATCO Syndrome.

“It basically means a defect in the long bones of the body during development,” Dawn said.

In Gabriel’s case, he would be born completely “perfect” from the waist up, his mother said.

“When Gabriel came into the world, his femur bones from the kneecap to his hip were about the size of your pinky,” Dawn said. His right leg lacked a fibula and his tibia bone was short and bowed like the letter “C.” He has only four toes on his right foot.

His left leg had all its bones, however, they were very short.

“He was completely fine except he had little legs and he had his own little feet,” Dawn said.

Gabriel has undergone two major surgeries. The first was to place pins through his leg bones so an external fixation device could be attached. It was hoped that by adjusting the device each day, Gabriel’s leg would straighten and grow.

When the device was removed about 8 months later, Gabriel’s leg was placed in a cast. And then Dawn said the unthinkable happened when the bone collapsed.

Another surgery followed when he was 2 years old.

“He was in a boot for about six weeks after that - the tiniest boot you’ve ever seen,” Dawn said.

Gabriel is unable to walk but has been receiving physical and occupational therapies since birth. He’ll have a total hip reconstruction when he turns 4.

“He’s going to have surgeries, his surgeon said, at least until he’s 18,” she said.

The family has traveled to CHOP 68 times.

“It’s a lot. We’re 2½ to 3 hours away from CHOP, so there and back is 6 hours of driving. Obviously it hard. It’s been a burden. Of course, as a mom, you want to do all this stuff by yourself but if you put it into perspective, it costs us $40 in gas every time we go,” she said.

Meals in the hospital cafeteria also add up.

“I can only work part-time because Gabriel has therapy and visits to CHOP and it’s been very, very difficult financially,” Dawn said.

Her uncle, Tony Brennan, and mother, Tina Parker, began putting together “Gabriel’s Run: Raising Awareness for FATCO Syndrome.”

At first, Dawn didn’t know how to feel about it.

“I am a person who will spend my last dime before I ever ask anybody for help,” she said. “It took a lot out of me to say I need help. I am his mom. We are supposed to be able to do this. But you come to a point in life where you have to set your pride aside and remember who you’re doing it for. And it’s for Gabriel.”

The fundraiser began from Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson in Orwigsburg.

The Tamaqua American Legion was asked to host a stop.

“Of course we are always willing to accommodate anything to help someone in the community,” Legion Commander Tom Isleib said.

About 50 motorcycles and 100 bikers arrived, and were treated to bean soup and hot dogs before they’d reach their final destination

“All these bikers were like family,” Dawn said. “It was the same with the people at the American Legion (in Tamaqua). They asked what we needed, what they could help us with. Even when Gabriel came in, they wanted to meet Gabriel. They weren’t looking for a return. They were looking to help. It was a priceless, priceless thing. I will never be able to thank them enough.”

Gabriel, who’s normally shy, was full of smiles and eager to provide fist bumps to anyone who asked. Even one of his surgeons from CHOP, Dr. Chrissy Goodbody, traveled to the event from out of state.

Dawn set up a Facebook page for her son. Called “Gabriel’s Journey - Our One in a Million Miracle,” she maintains it to spread awareness of FATCO Syndrome.

“Gabriel’s Run” was such a success that organizers are hoping to hold it again in 2024.