LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's newest heart transplant recipient got to head home on Tuesday.
Gavin Ford, a 16 year old from PRP, left Norton children's Hospital Tuesday afternoon after being diagnosed with heart failure more than two months ago.
The DeSales High School junior was put on the heart transplant list in August and waited patiently for a donor.
Doctors at Norton Children's implanted Gavin's new heart on Oct. 2.
He and his family are very grateful for the generosity of his donor.
"Oh yeah, I'm real appreciative," Gavin said. "Getting to live longer, is just, something I never thought I'd have to be appreciative for. But I am."
Gavin wants to follow in his family's footsteps and become a firefighter and arson investigator.
His grandfather, Joe Bowman, served for PRP Fire and was a WHAS Crusade Fire Coordinator for many years.
His uncle, Joey Bowman, is PRP's deputy chief.
Gavin himself has helped collect donations all of his life for the WHAS Crusade for Children.
For now, he plans to play lots of video games and spend time with friends while he recovers at home.
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