FAIRMONT — The town of Fairmont turned red Saturday in support of a teenager who is battling heart disease.
Red bows appeared throughout the town during the 33rd annual Fairmont Farmers Festival in a show of support by town residents and businesses for 14-year-old Dorian Oxendine, who received a heart transplant in April 2018. Sixty-five bows were placed throughout the town, beginning at L&M Convenient Mart on Lake View Road and ending at South Robeson Veterinary Clinic at N.C. 41.
Dorian’s body is now rejecting the heart.
Judy Hunt, a family friend, organized the event “to show support and love” for Oxendine. She said 80% of proceeds from the bows purchased by local businesses were donated to Oxendine and his family to help cover medical expenses. The sell of the bows to local businesses raised $715 for Dorian. Donations collected at the festival added $142.
“He’s sweet as pie,” said Angie Lovin, owner of Angie’s Touch of Class hair salon. “You know, he’s just a real humble kid.”
Dorian sported a small smile as he waved from his seat in a Polaris Slingshot motorcycle to the people lined up for Saturday’s parade.
“I was a little bit nervous,” he said after the parade.
An entourage of motorcycles from the Redrum Motorcycle club and the Red Spirit Women’s Motorcycle Riding Club followed Dorian, with red balloons attached to the motorcycles dancing in the wind.
“We consider Dorian a part of our family,” said Georgette Hunt, a member of Red Spirit Women’s Motorcycle Riding Club.
“It’s like a no-brainer to me,” she added. “When you see a need, you fill a need.”
After the parade, Dorian was seated in front of Old Skool Appliances store, located at 302 S. Main St., as locals offered words of encouragement and had photos taken with him. Some festival attendees also left messages of encouragement on a poster located in front of the store. A box for donations was located inside of the store.
“It’s Dorian’s headquarters today. It’s not the shop,” Judy Hunt said.
Dorian said that before he rode in the parade, a walk through the shop overwhelmed him.
“I started crying,” he said.
The support shown by the community meant something important to him.
“A lot of people love me,” Dorian said.
To Tashia Gibson, Oxendine’s mother, the outpouring of support was a reflection of the love of God.
“To me, it just shows me, you know, that there really is good people…,” Gibson said. “It’s more like God’s love than fake love, it’s real love, to me that’s what it means.”
Fairmont Mayor Charles Townsend said that when the town comes together to help one of its own, the community also is healed. That is one of many reasons he is “thankful to be Fairmont mayor,” Townsend said.
Melissa Hunt-Ellerby was among those wearing a red shirt as a gesture of support.
“I know he had a heart transplant and he’s been sick,” said Hunt-Ellerby, “So, I’ve just come out to support him.”
Red is the color associated with heart disease, commonly used in a campaign by the American Heart Association in the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, which seeks to promote cardiovascular health in women during the month of February.
On Aug. 27, 2017, Oxendine complained of stomach pain, according to Gibson. At first, doctors did not believe his symptoms were serious. He underwent testing to get a second opinion at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina. It was then discovered that his organs were shutting down and he was taken by helicopter to Duke University Medical Center. Test results revealed his heart had been attacked by a virus and he needed an immediate heart transplant.
Oxendine is scheduled to return Wednesday to Duke University Medical Center.
