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Meet Your Neighbor: Chris, Deborah, Zoe and Lily Gandy
By Callie Thomas
It is often said that good things come in small packages. The Gandy family, residents of 89123, learned quickly that a small package can offer both incredible joy and unfathomable challenges–especially when the tiny bundle was their newborn daughter Lily.
Deborah and Chris are the mom and dad of the Gandy household and have lived practically their entire lives in Las Vegas. Chris has been a police officer serving the community for the past 14 years while wife Deborah nurtures their two daughters, Zoe and Lily, at home on a daily basis. Zoe is the eldest sister at age seven and Lily is now four. It is hard to believe, yet difficult to forget, that Lily had been born nine weeks early due to a medical emergency and had entered the world at a miniscule 2 pounds, 9 ounces and just 14 and three-quarter inches long. The couple had to leave the hospital without their little baby, putting Lily in the hands of medical experts rather than taking care of her themselves. “It is really difficult when you’re the mom, you’re supposed to be taking care of her, and instead there’s a team of people that are taking care of her for you,” Deborah said. The family found comfort in the March of Dimes of Las Vegas organization.
The mission of the group is to help improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It is estimated that in Nevada more than 5,200 babies are born prematurely each year. Since the inception of the March of Dimes in 1938, the organization has conducted research, provided community services, education and advocacy to save babies’ lives. It has been successful in funding important research which has led to finding a cure for polio as well as a synthetic surfactant therapy that preterm babies receive in order to breathe when their lungs are not fully developed. “We became active in the March of Dimes after Lily was born. We call raising money for the March of Dimes our therapy,” she said. “We want to make sure no one has to endure what we did, but if they do, they know there is someone out there that can help them and is fighting for them,” says Chris.
The Gandys are proud of their association with the March of Dimes and have even been chosen as the Ambassador Family for 2011. “We hope by sharing our story we can raise a lot of money for research,” Deborah said. Through their interaction with the group, the Gandys have met many other families with similar stories at the March of Dimes fundraisers. “We love seeing the families at all the events and my daughters love being a part of the festivities.” The girls enjoy participating in the family picnic in the fall and taking part in the pumpkin carving event at Halloween. Their favorite is the spring fundraiser walk, March for Babies. This year on May 7, the annual three-mile March for Babies walk will be held at Town Square. The family hopes to raise $2,000 for the March of Dimes. Those interested in participating may register at www.marchforbabies.org.
The Gandy family has also lent their time to other community organizations such as Shade Tree, Family Promise, Shop with a Cop, Salvation Army Angel Tree Program and Lutheran Family Services. Giving back is important to this family that does everything together. “We were raised in this community. Everyone needs a helping hand in their life. Even the smallest gesture can make a difference like giving a dollar to the grocery store for their charity of the month. There are also many organizations that could use just a little of your time.”
