Meet Amazing Aven
On November 10th, 2014 Aven entered the world 13 weeks early and weighed only 2.5 pounds. He spent 87 days in the Newborn Critical Care Center at UNC Children's Hospital. Aven came home before his due date to join his parents Craig and Debra Moffat, and older twin brothers John and Gene.
When Aven was only six months old, he caught rhinovirus, otherwise known as the common cold. Due to his prematurity, his little lungs had a hard time fighting off the virus. Once again, Aven found himself at UNC Children's Hospital, this time in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. It was then that Aven went into a full cardiac arrest. Doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to bring Aven back. Due to the duration of time Aven was without oxygen, we were left with many unknowns. Doctors told us that he may never leave the hospital, and that if he did, he may never talk, walk, or breathe on his own. Eighteen days later, we brought Aven home again with an uncertain future.
Over the next few years, Aven surpassed everyone's expectations. Not only did he learn to walk, but he ran! He loved playing sports! He enjoyed being outside fishing, hunting, and playing with his brothers. Once Aven started talking, he never stopped. He told us he loved us hundreds of times a day! He excelled at school, always asking for more homework and completing assignments well above his grade level. Aven had an imagination like none other. He could constantly be found running around the family farm in a costume and insisted that we make a place for his imaginary friends at the table and call them by name. Aven was truly a miracle. He loved Jesus, his family, and friends and captured the hearts of all that knew him. He loved with his whole heart and had a smile that would light up any room.
On Saturday, August 7th, 2021, Aven first complained of a mild headache. He didn't let it slow him down and insisted on joining his brothers and friends for a game of putt-putt and ice cream. The following morning, Aven woke up with a horrible headache, vomiting, and a high fever. We took Aven to the local urgent care.
They suspected that he had contracted Covid-19 or Strep throat and sent us home. Realizing something was very wrong when Aven couldn't stay awake, we brought Aven to UNC Children's Hospital once again.
Once at UNC, Aven was admitted for observation early Monday morning. There was some suspicion of meningitis, and a spinal tap was attempted but was not successful. Aven continued to vomit whenever he moved and would only wake up to answer questions before immediately falling back asleep. They began treating Aven for Meningitis to be cautious. Monday at lunchtime, cerebral spinal fluid was obtained and sent off to the lab for testing. Monday evening, Aven's heart rate and blood pressure began to fluctuate to dangerous levels, and he became briefly unaware of who we were or where he was. He was then moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with the same amazing doctors and nurses who had taken care of him when he was only six months old.
Tuesday around lunchtime, our world came crashing down when the doctors told us they suspected that Aven had contracted the amoeba Naegleria fowleri. To try to stay ahead of the swelling, Aven was placed in a medically induced coma and began the treatment protocol that the CDC recommended. Wednesday morning, the diagnosis was confirmed by the CDC. We prayed for a miracle, but unfortunately, it was not meant to be. On Friday, August 13th, at 6:26 AM, with his parents at his bedside, Aven passed away from Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis.
