Gabby Gingras was going to start kindergarten at École Whitehorse Elementary School this fall, but that’s on hold.

Two weeks ago, she was told she has a brain stem tumour.

That diagnosis came 18 months after Gabby’s family started noticing that her eyes were darting back and forth, quickly and frequently.

At the time, they thought it might be epilepsy.

Today, Gabby is in Vancouver, recovering from a nine-hour craniotomy at B.C. Children’s Hospital.

“Fun stuff,” reads the GoFundMe page started by Gabby’s aunt, Terrylee Kucherean. “Every 4.5 year old girl’s dream. What happened to mud-pies, hide-and-seek or kindergarden?”

Fortunately, that fundraising page has brought a little light into the family’s life. Since it went up last Sunday, the campaign has received almost $15,000.

Terrylee says it’s huge for the family, which will find out next week if the tumour is malignant or benign.

Right now, she told the Star Thursday afternoon, they have no idea how long this road is – what mix of radiation and chemotherapy they might need, or how long they’ll have to stay in Vancouver.

The Yukon health care system has paid for Gabby’s parents, Stephane Gingras and Keira Kucherean, to fly to Vancouver.

It has also given them a stipend for food and accommodations (the couple is staying at Ronald McDonald House).

But there are additional expenses, including renting the feeding pump Gabby needs, and paying for medications.

Terrylee, who grew up in the Yukon but now lives in Vancouver, said roughly 85 per cent of donations have come from people in the Whitehorse area.

“Which is amazing,” she said. “I do love that about the Yukon – the sense of community.”

Another bright spot, according to Terrylee? That Gabby came out of the complicated surgery the same girl she was when she went in.

“She’s amazing. There have been a few grumpy days which she is totally entitled to,” said Terrylee.

But on the whole, Gabby is herself. Singing while she colours, wanting to flush out the feeding tube she needs, keen to know what’s going on so she can help.

“She seems to be the one who’s lifting everybody else’s spirits. She’s a blessing, that’s for sure,” said Terrylee. But that’s what she’s always like.

Gabby doesn’t judge anyone, said her aunt.

She brings an air of hilarity to everything she does.

She’s calm and wise. She makes light of everything. And she loves the environment, something instilled in her by her parents. When she sees litter in the park, she points it out as someone “hurting nature.”

“She’s so sweet, so caring of others ... everybody raves about how sweet and thoughtful she is.”

In addition to the financial donations, Terrylee said, local people have offered time and energy back here in Whitehorse, where the basement in Gabby’s home has flooded. People are pitching in to help with repairs.

Terrylee said it’s overwhelming to be the recipient of this kind of support. She said it’s easy to become jaded when you read the news some days, but this kind of story changes things.

“We tend to lose hope and faith in human kindness,” she said. “To see everyone step up, it rebuilds all that faith.”

To donate, visit “Gabriella - Fighting for Life” at www.gofundme.com.