Foster Care Teen Needs Heart Transplant

8 News Now | By Sharie Harvin, Reporter : By Trent Ogle, Photojournalist
LAS VEGAS -- An 18-year-old graduate of Basic High School in Henderson is facing the fight of his life.

Elijah Kelly, who grew up as a foster child, needs a heart transplant. His life has been filled with one obstacle after another.

Kelly has dilated cardiomyapathy, which means the left side of his heart does not pump like it should.

Nevada is 40th in the nation when it comes to registered donors. Currently, more than 500 Nevadans are waiting for a transplant.

Kelly isn't giving up hope. Just like every other battle he's face in life, he's fighting to win.

A battery-operated machine is keeping Kelly alive while he waits for a new heart.

"The wait could be a day, a week, a month, you never know," he said.

Kelly's heart is twice the size of normal one and he needs more than 20 pills a day to support it.
8 News NOW
______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor TODAY
In California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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