Masin Hawkins is a Christmastime miracle.

The Post Falls High freshman was clinging to his life after awaiting a heart transplant at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane for 79 days when a heart donation was flown in on Saturday.

It gave the 15-year-old new life.

"In our minds, it shows that there is a God," Masin's mother Cindy said on Sunday. "We knew it was serious, but it got to be even more serious than we thought or wanted to believe.

"We've been through so much that, now that it has happened, it's almost like it's a dream,"

Jeff Moen, one of Masin's grandfathers, said his grandson's condition became so dire that doctors wonder how he lived until the transplant.

"When a doctor opened him, he couldn't see Masin's heart beating and he said, 'I don't know why he's alive,'" Moen said. "(The doctor) looked up toward heaven and said, 'It was a gift from God. Someone was holding him up.'"

"It was a Christmas miracle for us. We've been given the greatest Christmas present ever - that's the gift of life."

Out of respect for the donor's family, Masin's friends and relatives declined to release what they've heard about the donor other than to say the heart was flown in from about 1,200 miles away and it was a "perfect fit."

"We hope that some day we'll be able thank the donor's family for their gift to us," Moen said.

The family learned that the donation became available on Friday, but fog hampered Spokane International Airport and the delivery was delayed until Saturday.

It turns out that was a blessing because Masin had gotten a blood infection and wouldn't have been ready for the transplant anyway, Cindy said.

Dave Eubanks of Coeur d'Alene, a Lakes Middle School teacher who had a heart transplant almost five years ago and has been a mentor for Masin and his family for the past seven weeks, said heart donations in transport are given about six hours before they start to fail.

"This was done in the nick of time," Eubanks said. "It was just amazing. Everything was synchronized and anything could've thrown it off. I'm so glad it had a happy ending."

Masin's blood type is B-positive, which is shared by only about 1 percent of the population.

"He was waiting for a needle in the haystack and, with time running out, they found it," Eubanks said. "It's been intensely emotional."

Adding to the drama was when another recent heart donation for Masin was deemed too risky.

Cindy described doctors David Sandler and Timothy Icenogle and their staffs and the nurses at Sacred Heart as "amazing people."

"They've treated Masin as if he was their own child," she said.

Moen said Masin's vital signs were described after the transplant as being "ridiculously good."

"The prognosis right now is excellent," Moen said. "This has been a roller coaster ride, but today we are up."

Masin is expected to remain in ICU a couple more days. He may speak for the first time since the transplant within the next two days. The ventilator may be removed today so he can breathe on his own.

Ironically, the transplant happened on the birthday of Masin's other grandfather, Ken Cross.

Multiple recent community and school fundraisers were held for Masin and his family, who have captured the hearts of many.

"There are thousands of people who have been thinking of this family that have been through hell and back," Eubanks said. "They're not entirely out of the woods, but they've at least found the path out."

Eubanks said that he and Masin made a deal as heart transplant friends.

"It's when he comes out of this, he can also become a mentor of someone else needing a heart transplant to pay it forward," Eubanks said.

Moen said the family has felt the support by a lot of people, including Eubanks, during the ordeal.

"Dave has truly become part of our family," Moen said. "Thank you will never be enough for all people who have taken care of Masin and the rest of us."

The transplant caps what has been a difficult journey of nearly two years for Masin.

Without any warnings, he collapsed at Post Falls Middle School in March 2010 due to a cardiomyopathy heart muscle disease that resulted in an enlarged heart. A school nurse applied CPR to revive him.

Masin later received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), an electrical impulse generator, and was placed on medications.

Then, nearly three months ago, Masin was feeling extra tired, caught pneumonia and was admitted to Sacred Heart until a donation came.

Cindy said, after Masin goes home, he'll have to be extra careful of germs and getting sick.

"He's gone through a life-changing event," she said. "The doctors have said to call them even if he gets a sniffle."

It's possible that Masin will return to PFHS before the school year is over and he may be home for Christmas.

"It all depends on how he reacts to the medications," Cindy said. "They said he'll be in the hospital for up to 14 more days."

Prior to his transplant, Masin was adamant about not decorating his hospital room too much for Christmas because he said the holiday is meant to be at home.

"Our Christmas will be whenever he comes home," Cindy said.