By Kayla Dimick kdimick@candgnews.com
Residents will soon be bouncing off the walls, getting serious air and feeling the wind in their hair to help a local teen needing a heart transplant.
Trevor Sullivan, 14, of Southfield, learned earlier this year that he was in need of a heart transplant after battling a seemingly never-ending cold.
The staff at AirTime Trampoline & Game Park will hold a fundraiser from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. April 24 at their location in Troy, at 662 E. Big Beaver Road.
Trevor’s father, Phillip Sullivan, said he and his wife, Kimberly, didn’t expect that a stubborn cold would reveal that their son has an undiagnosed heart defect.
“We didn’t really think anything of it,” Phillip said of the cold.
When it all started, Sullivan said, his son was a relatively healthy young man and even played eighth-grade football at Berkshire Middle School in Birmingham.
After several trips to the doctor to try to defeat the cold, Phillip said, Trevor was diagnosed in February with an enlarged heart, and it was determined that he needed a heart transplant.
“We were kind of wishing or hoping for the best-case scenario,” Phillip said. “They felt his case was bad enough to have a transplant. It was the news we were kind of expecting but didn’t want to get.”
Phillip said the cost of the transplant is in the $300,000 range, not including hospital fees. The family’s medical insurance will cover some of the expense, but not all, he said.
Phillip said his family wants to set aside some money for a future transplant down the road for Trevor, as his doctors said this one will only last him about 15 years.
“We want to set aside some money for after this is all over with. A cushion for the future,” Phillip said.
As of press time, $39,270 had been raised for Trevor’s transplant.
When AirTime Trampoline & Game Park sales manager Melissa Morris heard Trevor’s story, she knew she had to step in to help.
“Here at AirTime, we have a trampoline park, but it’s more than that. We want to serve the community,” Morris said. “Jumping on trampolines is great for your heart, so we’re hosting Jump for Trevor to raise money for his heart transplant.”
Morris said the goal of the Jump for Trevor fundraiser is $20,000.
Phillip said his family is grateful for the support of the community.
“It’s just a great community. Everybody has come together and opened up their arms to us,” Phillip said.
Morris said pre-registration for the event is encouraged. Interested participants can go to air timetrampoline.com and click on the Troy location. From there, click “Reserve jump time,” and select 4-9 p.m. The cost for the fundraiser is $25 for two hours of jumping.
People interested in donating to the Jump for Trevor fundraiser but who are not interested in jumping can simply click “Trevor (NO JUMP)” after the time is selected and make a donation directly.
To donate to Team Trevor and the Sullivan family, go to gofund me.com/TEAMTREVORSUL LIVAN. For a full list of upcoming fundraisers for Trevor Sullivan, visit facebook.com/groups/TeamT revor.