Gabriel “Super Gabe” Valentine was 8 years old when he died in 2017. Among his final wishes was for researchers to find a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa, EB for short, a rare skin disease that he had since birth.
To honor his wishes, his family will host an art event starting at 4 p.m. Aug. 14, at their home at 1458 Rock Hill Road, Starkville. Proceeds will benefit the EB Research Partnership.
Those with the disease lack a protein that keeps the layers of a person’s skin together. Friction of any kind — clothing rubbing against the skin, rubbing a finger on a soft stuffed animal, rubbing hands rubbing together on a cold day, etc. — can cause open wounds and blisters. The wounds never heal, said his sister Alexandra Baldwin, a student at Mississippi State University.
“My brother had a wound on his stomach from his umbilical cord until the day he died,” said Baldwin, who acted at the family’s spokeswoman during a recent interview. “The open wounds lead to infection. It impacts teeth; toes fuse together. Patients lose nails and skin. It’s just awful.”
According to the National Institute of Health, the exact prevalence of EB is unknown, but this condition is estimated to affect 1 in 30,000 to 50,000 people. It is usually lethal for many of the children who are born with it, Baldwin said. EB is a group of life-threatening rare genetic disorders that affect the body’s largest organ — the skin.
The art is painted by Lee Gibson, a Starkville artist and Valentine and Baldwin’s grandmother. In its fifth year, the event will have about 40 pieces of various sizes and prices available. Those attending will be able to visit various rooms in the house, look at artwork and snack on drinks and hors d’oeuvres. To make a purchase, a person can take a painting off the wall and pay Baldwin.
Gibson has been painting since college, but only took it up as a profession in her later years, Baldwin said.
“She does her work with a pallet knife,” Baldwin said. “There will be art of all sizes, and different images such as boats, flowers, a bulldog — something for everyone.”
Baldwin remembers Gabriel as being a big MSU football fan.
“He was a fan of anything Mississippi State really,” she said. “We went to football games quite frequently. He even got to pull the cannon and meet the players and Jax (MSU’s live mascot).”
During one season, Mississippi State wide receiver De’Runnya “Bear” Wilson wore a bracelet for EB when he was playing, Baldwin said, remembering the kind act fondly.
“He and the other football players were very good to my brother,” she said.
Several years later after that act of kindness, Wilson was shot and killed in his Birmingham, Alabama, home in January 2020.
Gabriel was a very sweet little brother, Baldwin said.
“He wanted to be involved in the community. He loved friends, Pokemon, and people. He didn’t let his EB get him down. He was very involved in the decision making process as it came to his care.”
Gabriel was diagnosed with having EB when he was a few months old. But due to the disease’s rarity, it took a long time to diagnose what type,” Baldwin said.
She said growing up, taking care of Gabriel was the family’s normal. She remembers her mother and step father Nell and Michael Valentine spending hours changing Gabriel’s bandages every day, while Baldwin took care of household chores.
“It was a long process to figure out how to take care of him best,” she said.
Baldwin is majoring in international business at MSU and works at the social science research center. She hopes to work abroad.
Besides raising money for EB research, the family hopes the art event will raise awareness of the rare disease, Baldwin said.
“It’s not contagious or anything like that,” she said. “It’s a hereditary disease. Both parents have to be carriers of the recessive genes that cause EB.”
The art event is free to attend. Besides purchasing paintings, visitors can enter a raffle for $10 a ticket and donations are always appreciated.
Art for EB
WHERE: 1458 Rock Hill Road, Starkville
When: starts at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14
WHAT: Art event designed to raise money and awareness for EB Research Partnership. Art varying in cost and size will be hung around the property and will be for sale. Food and beverages will be available.
COST: Event itself is free.
INFORMATION: https://www.leegibsonartist.com/art-for-eb-1 or search for the Facebook Event, Art for EB.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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