Boy, 13, Fights Rare Heart Condition With Pluck And Determination

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — He's like most 13-year-old boys.

He loves music, mischief and Superman. But on the inside, Evan Podsiad is different.

Podsiad tells CBS2's Joy Benedict, "I have a heart condition."

That would be an understatement. He has Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). Translation: he needs a heart transplant.

His condition is so severe, he's been bumped up on the national donor's list.

Until the delicate operation can happen, Podsiad is stuck in his second floor room at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. He has reconciled the fact that plans to attend band camp will be on hold for a while and he might be in the hospital for months.

"If I  go into V-tach [a fast heart rhythm] or if I fall down -- I have to be in the unit so they can do something," said Podsiad.

The condition came on suddenly. One minute he was taking final exams, the next day his feet were swollen and Podsiad was tethered to several machines.

Evan's father, Ryan Podsiad, was to be promoted in the Navy this week.

Ryan's Navy mates wanted to make sure Evan didn't miss the ceremony, so they bought the ceremony to him.

"It was kind of cool that I got to see it," he says

Evan's medical costs -- care, surgery and recovery -- will be an estimated $3 million.

Family and friends are getting together for a series of fundraisers and they have also set up a donation website.

"So many people are doing so many things. It's humbling," said Jill Podsiad, Evan's mother.