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 the Indiana Donor Network.
RELATED: Indiana woman on mission to sign-up more organ donors
-
Man, woman dead in shooting on Indy's near east side
One person is dead, and another person is in critical condition after shooting on Indy's near east side Monday afternoon.
'I just want to go home': ALS patient displaced after east side arson fire
Weeks after a fireworks-related fire destroyed part of the Villages at Mill Crossing apartments, one resident with ALS is still living hotel to hotel with no permanent housing.
Man involved in crash dies after being struck by second vehicle on far east side
The man involved in the first crash had been hit by a second vehicle while standing outside his car, leaving him critically injured, police said.
Lower temps to begin the new work week
Still humid, but not as oppressive as it has been the last several days. We will look for temperatures closer to normal for this time of year.
