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The story behind the Gabriel House of Care begins long before the idea of the house was conceived. It began in the 1940's with a young boy who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. That boy was Jorge Bacardi, a member of the well-known Bacardi family. His only hope for survival was a double lung transplant. In March 2008, at age 64, Jorge Bacardi received a double lung transplant at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
His surgery was complex but the outcome and his recovery were excellent. He left the hospital a few days later, having experienced a full breath of air for the first time in his life. The Bacardi gift to Mayo Clinic was an expression of their deep gratitude to Christopher, his family, Dr. Cesar Keller, and his Mayo transplant team - The Gabriel House of Care.