Meet Miracle Kid Gavin Steel

Posted at: 05/29/2012 4:23 PM | Updated at: 05/29/2012 6:49 PM
By: Christine VanTimmeren | WHEC.com

Gavin Steel has to struggle with his illness every single day and for the rest of his life. At two years old, it something he doesn't yet understand.

Gavin is fighting an extremely rare combination of diseases. He was brought to the Golisano Children's Hospital at four weeks and didn’t leave for the next four months.

Doctors not only found a large hole in his heart but Gavin was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Gavin’s father, Jason Steel said, “That combination of problems, the cystic fibrosis and the hole in the heart made it very difficult for Gavin to grow and gain weight. The two diseases were fighting against each other. The hole in his heart was causing too much blood to be pumped into the lungs and the cystic fibrosis was in the lungs full of mucus.”

The family says it was the team of doctors, surgeons and nurses at Golisano Children's Hospital that brought him back to life. Dr. George Alfieris said, “They have a tremendous resiliency and tremendous spirit and really they give me a gift everyday.”

Everyday for Gavin and his family is still a struggle, an emotional one. Because of the build up of mucus in his body, Gavin has a strict regiment of treatments and medications to keep him alive. The treatment uses air pressure to shake the mucus loose.

Gavin’s body also doesn't produce the enzymes needed to break down his food. So he has to take pills. “Every morning he wakes up he's a true miracle and it's because of the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong.”

You can meet all our Miracle Kids this Sunday during the Miracle Network Telethon for Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The telethon airs on News10NBC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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