Long Island teen overcomes heart failure, leaves Westchester hospital after months of recovery

Gabrielle Walker, 17, danced as she was discharged out of Blythedale Children's Hospital.

Jade Nash

Apr 18, 2025, 9:50 PM

Updated 4 days ago

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A teen who spent months overcoming heart failure at a Valhalla hospital finally got to go back home on Friday.
Gabrielle Walker, 17, danced as she was discharged out of Blythedale Children's Hospital.
The aspiring Broadway star from North Massapequa spent months at the Valhalla hospital recovering from heart failure.
Walker said this time in her life was "incredibly hard" for her.
"At some point, I fell into a state of depression, and I just wanted to be home. I wanted to be with everybody," Walker said.
Walker said the battle with her health began back in November when she wasn't feeling well and started throwing up.
She said the freak episode first sent her to a couple of hospitals closer to her home on Long Island.
Her mom, Jennifer Trent, said she was placed on life support to survive.
"It was the absolute worst nightmare any parent could go through. They gave her less than a 30% chance to pull through that evening," Trent said.
Walker was eventually transferred to Blythedale Children's Hospital to continue her recovery and rehabilitation.
Dr. Stephen Lienenweber was one of her medical providers.
"We helped rebuild her body, but we also depended on her spirit and that was her family and Gabby, herself," the doctor said.
Hospital employees said Walker is now able to breathe on her own again and sing and dance.
The newly recovered abilities will hopefully help her achieve her goal of performing in "Wicked" in the future.