Gabby's Story: “No way I could have gone back”

Looking through the incubator glass at her tiny baby girl, Gabby knew she had do something to change her life.

The infant — barely one pound and fighting for survival — had been born more than two months premature. Even if the baby survived, doctors told the heartsick teenage mother, she could have lifelong medical complications.

Gabby accepted that prognosis — resolving to do whatever she could to make sure her daughter would have the best life possible.

And almost immediately, the high school dropout knew what she had to do.

Three days later, Gabby re-enrolled in Sunnyside High School through an online program facilitated by NoDropouts. “I was able to start right away,” she said. “They had Internet at the hospital, so I was able to do almost all of my work there.”

The schoolwork was a welcome distraction during the first two weeks — a time in which she was not permitted to even hold her baby girl. And even after that, she said, the online coursework gave her something to work toward at a time when she was powerless to help her child in so many other ways.

“There’s no way I could have gone back to a regular school,” Gabby said. “Even if I had wanted to, I couldn’t have been in school and with my baby at the same time. And being with my daughter was definitely my priority.”

It took four months, but Gabby finally brought her baby home. Today her daughter, Jaylin, is seven months old and weighs in at a healthy 13 pounds — and Gabby is on track to graduate in one year.

“The tests can be tough, sometimes, but I stick with it and it gets done,” she said. “I know what I have to do.”

Is there a Gabby in your community? We can help you help her. Call us at 855-NO-DROPOUTS or send an e-mail to info@nodropouts.com