These days, Ivin Jasper exhales easily.

His body clock is no longer set on “distress.” He no longer spends his waking hours searching for new ways to hope.

“Now,” said Jasper, Navy’s offensive coordinator and a former University of Hawaii quarterback, “things are on the positive side.”

His teen idol — his teen-aged son, Jarren — is enrolled at Broadneck High in Annapolis, Md., volunteers as a manager for the football team, and enjoys normal youthful experiences.

“Everything looks great now,” Ivin Jasper said. “We’re in a really good place.”

It has been 13 months since Jarren, now 15, was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, a year since he went into cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, eight months since he underwent a heart transplant. But on July 12, a sixth-month biopsy showed Jarren’s body had no complications in accepting the new heart.

“We’re excited about that,” Ivin said.

The Jasper family’s life changed on July 27, 2017, when Jarren underwent a physical examination to play football for Broadneck. The Jaspers were told Jarren did not pass the physical because of an irregular heartbeat. A specialist diagnosed Jarren with accelerated idioventricular rhythm.

A month later, Jarren underwent a procedure to correct the condition. But during the operation, his heart reportedly swelled and he went into cardiac arrest. It was hoped that medication and treatment would restore the normal heart rhythm. It eventually was determined Jarren would need a transplant.

“At the time, I’d go to church and I’d pray but again … for me, there was the question of, ‘Why him?’” Ivin recalled. “I had to step back, and that’s where faith really comes into play. This is God’s plan for him. As bad as it may seem, it happened for a reason. I truly believe God has a plan for him.”

Ivin noted that it was fortunate that his son’s condition was caught during an examination. “There was something wrong with his heart that needed to be fixed,” Ivin said. “We do know that. It could have been on the playground playing around and collapsed there, and then it would have been over right there.”

It was Jarren who offered encouragement to his father.

“I was to the point where I was going to take the season off,” Ivin said.

“Kenny (Niumatalolo, Navy’s head coach) gave me the option to do that. But it was Jarren who said, ‘You need to go to work. It’ll be fine. I’ll get through this. What keeps you happy is football, so you go coach and you can come back to the hospital when you’re done with practice, and I’ll be fine.’ His strength and resiliency and everything he’s shown are definitely inspiration for everybody.”

In January, Jarren underwent the heart transplant. During the recovery period, Ivin said, “he was always positive. He never got down on himself. He never felt sorry for himself.”

Jarren was home-schooled during the 2017-18 academic year. But he maintained his work, and he was allowed to advance to the 10th grade. “He has his class schedule already,” Ivin said. “He’s already going to school. He’s helping the football team out. He’s the manager. He has a little nerve damage in his leg that’s slowly but surely (healing).”

Ivin said Jarren will be on medication the rest of his life. “He has to take care of himself, he has to be a healthy person,” Ivin said.

Ivin acknowledged it has been a difficult time. “This gives you perspective on life and what’s really important,” Ivin said. “As parents, you don’t want to see your child go through anything like that. I wish every parent who has a child who’s sick have that child be better. It’s unimaginable to have to sit there and look at your child (in that condition). I don’t wish that on anybody. I wish every child is healthy.”