The Make-A-Wish Foundation is about to give a young hockey fan the gift of a lifetime.
Seven-year-old Eamonn Moran of New Lenox has been crushing the odds since the day he was born after he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
“The odds were stacked against him that he would survive as long as he did,” said his mom, Kristen Moran. “When he was born – it was a pretty quick delivery for a first-time birth…they said they wanted to pink him up ..cause he was looking dusky.”
His first surgery took place a few hours after he was born.
“You see this one-day old baby with his open chest and he has yellow plastic film covering it for infection.”
Eamonn would spend a total of 10 months in Lurie Children’s Hospital. Over the course of his young life, he’s had four open-heart surgeries, including a heart transplant, and all before his 7th birthday.
The surgeries have given him a new lease on life, and he’s taken full advantage of it.
“Now, I look at him and how far he has come, I know we are blessed. He is in 2nd grade – reading, and he is playing hockey and playing with friends,” Kristen said.
Eamonn is absolutely wild about hockey, and he’s about to receive an incredible gift through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as he’ll get a trip to Canada to watch his beloved Edmonton Oilers.
“For him, he likes the falling down (to the ice in hockey),” Kristen said. “He thought that was so fun.”
His family will also continue its practice of giving back, as Eamonn’s parents also helped start a non-profit Some Assembly Required to help parents of young cardiac patients with parking expenses.