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

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.

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.

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."