'Make a Wish' teen plays touching cello performance of her 'symphony' in NJ

Monday, November 7, 2016
MILLBURN, New Jersey (WABC) -- A high school junior who got a second chance at life says she only had one wish, to have her own cello.

The 16-year-old says music helped her through a life-changing surgery and Monday she got the chance to share her gift with family, friends and even strangers.
[Ads /]
It was back on March 8th that Ava Covington's heart stopped during track practice at Bloomfield High School.

Because of the quick response of her coach who used a defibrillator and performed CPR, and successful open-heart surgery, Ava is now alive, well and tremendously grateful.

As a wish child with Make-A-Wish New Jersey, her request was simple: to have a cello. Due to the physical limitations caused by her illness, the former athlete has found an outlet in music.
[Ads /]
After getting her "wish," Ava kicked off the store's "Believe" campaign by dropping the first letter to Santa in the mailbox.

Ava's performance on Monday was in front of a big crowd at Macy's in the Mall at Short Hills.



She called her performance, "Ava's Symphony."
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.