Community rallies around 10-year-old with genetic disorder

BOYD COUNTY, KY (WOWK) – Community members across the Tri-State area are rallying around one brave little boy with a rare genetic condition that he’s fought since he was a baby.

10-year-old Gunner Stepp is like any other little boy.

He said in an interview on Monday that his favorite things to do are, “draw and play my video games.”

Gunner also loves Spider-Man because of his costume and his strength. The Stepps said Gunner is also strong like Spider-Man because of all he’s been through since he was a baby when blood clotting and pain revealed other complications.

“After several months of testing, they decided that Gunner would just grow out of the little blood clotting disorder, that he would grow out of it. Fast forward a year and a half, he had not grown out of it and it had progressed and was kind of showing up more and more and more. So, we then went to more specialists,” Brittany Stepp, Gunner’s mom, said.

Shortly after, doctors noticed that Gunner’s spleen and liver were both enlarged, leading to Gunner getting a splenectomy. He’s been regularly doing treatments in Cincinnati since 2016.

“Since then, we’ve tried several different chemos, different pills, injections, and we just haven’t had any results at all,” Brittany said. “Gunner has a genetic disorder, and two of his genes fused together and created a new gene. He’s the only person in the world they’ve found that specific gene in.”

Gunner said, “I got poked a lot.”

“In March, we found out that it had ended up causing hepatopulmonary syndrome, which is why he has to be on oxygen now, even for baths or just getting from place to place. He has to have his oxygen all the time,” Brittany said.

Now, Gunner is waiting to see if he needs a liver transplant. He had an evaluation last month, and the Stepp family is waiting on the results.

“It’s the hardest thing that I have ever been through, that our family has ever been through. If I didn’t have faith in Christ that he’s going to heal Gunner, it would be way, way harder I think. We just keep praying and praying for the miracle,” Brittany said.

However this family is centered around faith, and the Stepps said they are relying on one thing: prayer. And, the family is inviting anyone touched by his story to help pray for him as they await to see if he’ll need and be approved to get a liver transplant.

Gunner’s story is reaching thousands across the country and beyond. Some are praying for a miraculous healing, and others are raising support for the Stepps, like family friend Tim Lambert.

Lambert helped organize an upcoming charity ride all for Superhero Gunner on June 22. The ride is open to anyone in the public, and it costs $20 per bike.

“Most of us got kids. Some of us got grandkids. When it just comes to a child, it hits a little different,” Lambert said.

Lambert said if anyone has questions, he encourages people to call 605-225-2117. The ride will start at 220 Town Hill Rd, Louisa, KY 41230.

“Just pray that you get better, right?” Brittany said to Gunner.

Gunner responded, “Yeah.”

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