4-year-old Daphne boy receives heart transplant, saving his life

DAFNE, Ala. (WKRG) — A 4-year-old Daphne boy is recovering at home after receiving a life-saving heart transplant. Her family says Gray Ellinwood is an example of the need for organ donors.

“He doesn’t want to quit.”

Playing with toy cars and kitchen tongs, Gray Ellinwood is just like any other child.

The only difference is this scar and a longer hospital stay than most adults. And now he is a healthy child.

He is a healthy child now.

“There’s no doubt that people think he just wants to stay up past 11 p.m. all night. He doesn’t want to quit. He wants to be with us all the time. He wants to be with everyone. ” said his father, Vincent Ellinwood.

We first spoke to the Erinwoods in October last year, when Gray was awaiting a heart transplant in Birmingham.

The trip got worse before it got better after my 4 year old had a heart attack.

“Please be careful with children.”

“You know, it was a really stressful event,” said her father, Vincent Ellinwood. “I mean, seeing your son suffer like that is something I don’t really want to go through. I can guarantee you that.”

They underwent transplants and were hospitalized for several more weeks before returning to Baldwin County.

The Erinwoods say they are grateful that their son was able to get the care he needed and that he was able to receive treatment in time after people noticed something was wrong.

“Be really careful with your kids,” said her mother, Kyla Ellinwood. She said, “A lot of things…little things that are normal for kids…could be a sign of something else.”

“Just be grateful.”

According to his family, Gray’s daycare worker noticed something strange about him, and after that, he visited an ophthalmologist last summer and received the following diagnosis. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—Thanks to my donor family, my symptoms have improved.

“Be grateful for a parent’s ability to allow their child to receive an organ transplant, and even more so for them to be organ donors. If it weren’t for those parents and those kids, my son wouldn’t be here. ” said Vincent Ellinwood.

While Gray was waiting for a heart transplant, his mother, Kayla, was also pregnant with their first daughter, Scarlett, and it was a rollercoaster of a life.

Future fundraising activities

All four are now home and adjusting to their new normal.

Gray Ellinwood continues to receive special medications and treatments for her new heart.The family continues to raise funds through this activity. Pediatric Organ Transplant Network for his current and future medical care.

They also hold fundraisers at local restaurants, and a fundraiser will be held this Tuesday, March 5th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Beef O’ Brady’s in Spanish Fort. His 10% of all sales will be donated to Gray’s COTA Foundation.

Event location:

Another fundraising night will be held on April 8 at Baumhauer’s Victory Grill in Daphne.

10% of all in-store orders will be donated on April 8th from 6pm to 8pm. Alcohol and takeout are not included.