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Teen Heart Warrior Grills Her Way Back | Des Moines News
A 14-year-old heart warrior, Ava Weitl, stunned crowds at the Iowa State Fair by competing in the cookout contest—just months after a grueling hospital stay. Diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition since birth, Ava’s love for barbecue was born from her mom and nurtured during hospital stays watching cooking shows. She even asked nurses about grilling tips and turned gift money into her own grill. With her brother also battling the same illness, Ava’s journey mirrors slow-cooked barbecue: patient, resilient, and full of flavor. Her flamingo-decorated station symbolized her comeback…
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