INDIANAPOLIS — Omarr Gadling says every day, not just Thursday, is a day of Thanksgiving.
"When you see the nurses and the techs and the other patients in this hospital, it causes you to be thankful for what you have," Gadling said.
The award-winning poet has spent the past two Thanksgivings at Riley Hospital for Children waiting on a heart transplant. He was born with a congenital heart condition.
He spends his days performing poetry on Facebook Live and doing Tai Chi along with other activities.
"I'm away from my family ... my motto is always stay busy and don't worry about what you can't control. Keep yourself occupied and just take it one day at a time," Gadling said.
Riley Children's Health shared a video of one of the poems.
"It's a form of expression for me, a form of release. It's like therapy to me; it's like my special gift and talent that God blessed me with," Gadling said. "I just do poetry to inspire and encourage people that may be going through challenges in their lives. It's just a blessing to have a gift."
The East Chicago native was recently surprised with the National Spoken Word Award for Overcomer of the Year.
To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit theIndiana Donor Network.
RELATED: Indiana woman on mission to sign-up more organ donors
-
IndyGo receives $150M grant for Blue Line
Thanks to funding from a new grant, the bus system will potentially connect people in the town of Cumberland over to the Indianapolis International Airport.
Strangers help shovel each other’s driveway, pull car out of ditch
Sometimes it takes a village to get through weeks like this. WRTV found neighbors helping each other overcome the challenges heavy snow can bring.
Investigators: Soldier used AI to plan Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
On Tuesday, officials in Las Vegas shared new details of the investigation of Matthew Livelsberger and the Cybertruck explosion in front of the Trump International Hotel.
Unshoveled sidewalks remain dangerous days after snowstorm
Residents could receive a fine if their sidewalks are not shoveled. Despite the law, the sidewalks surrounding the Red and Purple Line station were mostly untouched on Tuesday.
