Help Warm Gavin's New Heart

Gavin Miglio was a typical teenage boy until about three weeks after his 15th birthday August 2. He loved video games, days at the lake. Torturng his little sister in ever new and inventive ways just to show her how much he loved her. Then, before month's end, he was sick. On Monday, after three potentials didn't measure up, Gavin got his new heart.

Gavin grew up in Coeur d'Alene until his dad, Chris Fitzgerald, let a friend talk him into dreaming of how much easier life and earning a living would be in the rich oil fields of North Dakota about two years ago. Chris, Gavin and stepmom Crystal moved east to Watford City.

It wasn't what they'd hoped, but the family persevered. Celebrated Gavin's 15th birthday. He'd been diagnosed years earlier with a heart murmur, a leaky valve, but neither slowed him. Cardiac issues were a possibility, never a concern.

They weren't on anyone's mind when Gavin fell ill August 22. Crystal was the first to notice something amiss. Normally a hearty eater, especially with sweets, she was taken aback when he refused his favorite cake, saying he was tired. He barely had the strength to get there.

Three trips to a doctor in Watford City, three times the verdict was pneumonia, different medicines prescribed. But on the third visit, tests showed his kidneys and liver were failing. He was taken by ambulance to a Fargo medical center, where it was determined in short order that the reason his kidneys and liver were failing was because they weren't getting enough blood because his heart was failing.

Gavin was flown to a Minneapolis hospital where Gavin was admitted and fitted with a heart pump to buy him time. He was placed on the waiting list.

The family has only one car, so early on they made some hard decisions. Chris stayed with Gavin at a Minneapolis Ronald McDonald House while Crystal made the drive back to Norh Idaho, to her parents, John and Carol's home in Boundary County. Now the family breadwinner, Crystal lives as frugally as she can, working at the Boundary Restorium as a combination activities director/personal services assistant, smiling, laughing and having fun, even on the morning when, more than 1,300 miles away, her husband paced while their son's life and whatever future he may have rested in the hands of a skilled surgeon.

Surgery was scheduled for 8 a.m. Central Tuesday. Chris sent her this photo, taken as Gavin was wheeled in for surgery, and then they waited.

After an eternity, Chris texted her later that morning. QThe initial indications were all good -- Gavin's new heart fit well, it was beating, holding rhythm. Gavin had color again.

Once Gavin is able, probably around June, Crystal will drive back to Minneapolis and bring he and Chris home to Bonners Ferry.

She and her family are doing their very best to stand together alone, not realizing yet that in Bonners Ferry, their family is a building block of our community, and we stand together, as one. 9B.News has established a GoFundMe account, "Help Warm Gavin's New Heart," with proceeds to go directly to Chris, to be used as needed.