A Community Carnival and Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, June 7, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Creative Learning Center (17930 Bowie Mill Rd., Derwood) to support Gibson Theimer Rivera, a young child who is recovering from a severe lawn mower accident.
The event is free to attend and will feature fun for the whole family, including a silent auction, lemonade stand, bake sale, face painting, and games. Food trucks will also be on site, with proceeds donated to support Gibson’s recovery.
The accident occurred on Saturday, May 10 in Olney, and Gibson remains hospitalized with extensive injuries to his entire right leg, from the upper buttock to the foot. Organizers hope the event will raise additional funds and community support for Gibson’s ongoing medical care. A GoFundMe campaign launched for the family has already raised more than $60,000.
All proceeds from the carnival will directly benefit Gibson Theimer Rivera. For more information, contact [email protected].
GoFundMe: Update – May 23
This past Sunday morning, Gibson received a heartwarming surprise visit from his beloved CLC preschool teachers, Ms. Ashley and Ms. Lissa. The moment they appeared in his hospital room, Gibson’s expression said it all—his eyes welled up with tears as emotion overtook him. They brought with them a bundle of cards, printed photos, and a video created by his classmates. Together they watched videos and played with some of the thoughtful gifts his teachers had brought, making for a very special visit that clearly meant the world to him. When it was time for them to leave, Gibson didn’t want to say goodbye. Later, he asked his mommy, Rodeth, to help him draw a card for his class. Gibson dictated a sweet message, and we took a photo of the card and emailed it to the school so his teachers and classmates could see it.The rest of the week brought both challenges and bright moments. On Monday, Gibson went into the OR again for wound cleaning and analysis. Though all initially seemed well, he developed a fever soon afterward that spiked to 104.1°F, which was deeply concerning to both of us. On Tuesday, a CT scan revealed the possibility of mild pneumonia and fluid near his leg wounds. Although the pneumonia was not conclusively diagnosed, treatment was started immediately out of caution.
He returned to the OR on Wednesday for further wound inspection. This time, some sutures were opened to allow for a deeper culture sample to be taken where fluid had been seen in the scan. Blood clotting concerns also arose based on what the surgical team observed. That evening, his fever returned and rose to 103.7°F. While the culture results were still pending, Gibson was placed on blood thinners to address the clotting concerns and re-started on antibiotics as a precaution against infection. His temperature fluctuated between 99°F and 101°F during this time.
On Friday, Gibson was once again taken to the OR for follow-up cleaning and analysis. Fortunately, everything looked okay during the procedure. Afterward, the infectious disease team informed us that the bacteria from the earlier culture had been successfully identified, allowing them to change Gibson’s antibiotics to more precisely target the infection. Since then, his temperature has hovered between normal and 100.4°F, which we see as a good sign of progress.Another ongoing concern this week has been Gibson’s struggle with eating. The combination of his medications and repeated anesthetics from frequent OR visits has made it very difficult for him to keep food down. He often tries to eat full meals—wanting so badly to do his part—but ends up vomiting much of it. The nutrition team is concerned that he’s not getting enough solid food to keep his intestines functioning properly and to meet the high metabolic demands of healing. If he’s not able to increase his intake soon, a nasal feeding tube will need to be placed, which Gibson is desperate to avoid. We are doing everything we can to help him tolerate more solid food and avoid that outcome, but the threat of the dreaded tube continues to loom large.
In the midst of all of this, Gibson has been surrounded by love. He’s had visits from CLC families and staff, our kind neighbors, and his closest friend and their family—all of whom helped lift his spirits and take his mind off of his injuries. A truly unforgettable moment this week was the visit from the rescue teams who helped save Gibson’s life. When so many people in uniform arrived at his room, he was clearly a little overwhelmed at first. But as each person offered well wishes and thoughtful gifts, Gibson relaxed and lit up with joy. Before long, he was back to being his cheerful, chatty self—and, true to form, he didn’t want them to leave.Looking Ahead to Gibson’s Next Operation
Before we share the details of what lies ahead for Gibson surgically, we want to acknowledge that the information in this section may be difficult for some to read. We’ve wrestled with how much to share, and while we understand that the specifics can be emotionally heavy, we’ve chosen to include them in the spirit of transparency. Our hope is that by offering a clearer picture of what Gibson is facing, our friends and supporters will better understand the gravity of his situation and the resilience it demands. These aren’t abstract challenges—we are navigating real, complex decisions in real time, and your continued support helps sustain us through every step.Gibson’s next operation is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. This procedure is actually two operations in one: an orthopedic procedure involving amputation and reconstruction, and a nerve grafting procedure. While we don’t yet have all the details about the nerve work, we’ve had conversations with the orthopedic team about what’s being planned for the amputation portion.
The operation is known as a SYME procedure, and it’s an option in Gibson’s case because his heel is still attached. This allows the surgical team to remove nonviable bone and tissue from his foot while relocating his heel to the end of his remaining leg. One major benefit of this approach is that it allows for more natural and comfortable weight-bearing, which can significantly improve mobility and prosthetic function in the long term.However, there are still unknowns. Although there’s blood flow in the area and the tissue appears to be viable, the functionality of the nerve connections remains uncertain. Unfortunately, there’s no way to evaluate the nerves with confidence except to give them time to heal and see how they respond. The SYME procedure offers the best opportunity for healing and restoration under those conditions.
As part of the preparation for this surgery, we were asked to give consent in advance for the surgeons to amputate at any level below the knee, should complications or unexpected findings arise during the operation. This is a proactive safety measure, meant to avoid delays in treatment if a more extensive intervention is suddenly needed. Agreeing to this was not easy—it is emotionally distressing—but we understand that the doctors are doing everything possible to give Gibson the best chance for a full and active life.
Expression of Gratitude
We continue to be deeply grateful for the outpouring of support, encouragement, and generosity from all of you—our friends, family, community, and kind strangers alike. Your love is helping carry us through this, and we will keep sharing updates as Gibson moves forward.
With heartfelt thanks,
Rodeth and Rich”
