Super Gav saves the day for newborns across Minnesota

Child, who died from rare disease, inspired screenings for others like him

WINONA, Minn. — The child was a hometown hero almost two years ago to the day.

Wednesday, Gavin Quimby became a hero to newborns across the state of Minnesota, as the Super-Gav Act was passed.

Quimby is better known as Super-Gav because of his battle against a rare illness, and his “saving” Winona dressed as his favorite superhero. 

His battle – and that of his family’s – led to legislation announced Wednesday that allows for three rare disorders to be added to a list of conditions in which newborns will be screened.

Many were on hand at Winona Health, where Senator Jeremy Miller announced the Super-Gav Act.

Quimby’s rare illness is known as metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). It’s a genetic disorder that causes the brain and nervous system to lose function. A disorder mostly found in children. A disorder that usually takes their lives, as it did Quimby’s on Sept. 8, 2015.

Winona got behind the child’s battle, shutting down the town, so Super-Gav could come to the rescue back in June of 2014.

The 4-year-old scored a winning touchdown in the state championship for the Winona Winhawks, he put out a school fire and stopped a purse-snatching thief.

Super-Gav’s heroics were part of a fundraiser to help cover his medical expenses.

“One thing was very clear, that Gavin was a fighter,” Miller said. “He’s one of the toughest individuals I’ve had the opportunity to meet. 

“And, to this day, he and his family are an inspiration to me and many others.”

The legislation doesn’t completely solve the problem that took Quimby’s young life. Of the three disorders added to the list of around 50 conditions nearly 70,000 newborns will be screened for, Quimby’s is not one of them.

The science hasn’t caught up, yet, to MLD. It cannot be screened for. But the three added to the list will be screened for beginning in early 2017.

Miller says some roadblocks have kept Minnesota doctors from screening for these three conditions.

“One, is the science or the tech there to detect the disease early enough?” Miller said. “And two, are are the treatments are available?”

The Quimby family will, no doubt, keep fighting for a way to help others, like Gavin, until screen-tests and a cure are found.

Check out their Facebook page here, Gavin flying for a cure.

And here he is, Winona’s hero:

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