Family, classmates celebrate life of little boy who died after battle with heart disease

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A special event Thursday honored the life of a little boy who passed away after a battle with heart disease.

Many of you may remember Gavin Wilson. He had two heart transplants, and after making it through his kindergarten year, he passed away on Aug. 7 due to a stroke from which he couldn't recover.

On Thursday, his mother Tia Wilson and many of his family and friends at Parker Woods Montessori School honored his life with a ceremony. It was Gavin's seventh birthday, so they also sang to him and planted a tree in his honor.

They launched balloons and dedicated a beautiful bench in his name. They call it "Gavin's Buddy Bench." It has the head of a hedgehog because he loved Sonic the Hedgehog.

"That baby was truly heaven on Earth. He had a deep impact on every person he came in contact with. And on today, on Sept. 12 back in 2012 at 5:17, marked the day of completion. So seven years later on that day, he can continue to impact lives through the Gavin Bench. What an honor it is to know that anyone can gain a friend by simply sharing this bench," said Tia.

We know many of you sent cards and letters to Gavin while he waited for his second heart. His family would like to thank all of you. They also remind us that Gavin lived longer because people were generous enough to be organ donors.

They remind all of us if you are willing to be a donor, sign your driver's license and tell your family your wishes.

Tia said she wants him to be remembered by just how strong he was, right up until the very end.