My name is Peter and I am so very excited to be riding this year's Courage Classic in honor of Lola! My dad works at Children's Hospital Colorado as a Cardiologist and I have been hearing about Lola for years. She has congenital heart block but is doing so well. I met her parents at a Courage Classic a few years ago and I really hope to see them at their annual Tuxskido fundraiser. It is an amazing ski event at Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort; you should definitely check that out as well!
Here is Lola's story from her parents, Amy and Tighe:
"At 7 months pregnant, Lola's mom Amy felt something strange. Gut feeling or not, she went to the hospital where is was determined that the baby had an irregular heartbeat. Concerned for the child's safety, there was a possibility Amy would deliver that day. Though it didn't happen, Amy and the unnamed baby took multiple tests over the course of the next week, at multiple hospitals, consulting professionals from across the country on what to do with this condition call "heart block". Eventually, we were led to Dr. Bettina Cuneo at Children's Hospital Colorado, one of the foremost experts on this rare condition".
For the next several weeks Amy and Tighe would meet with Dr. Cuneo and the Children's Hospital staff a few times a week to determine the best course of action for the baby. This meant hours and hours of imaging, ultrasounds, IVIG and Dr. Cuneo explaining (multiple times!) what the heck was going on with the baby, and why heartblock and its varying degrees of severity, is such a tenuous disease. Through it all, Dr. Cuneo kept the unborn baby's health at the top of her priorities.
On January 21st, 2019 Lola was born. Today, Lola is a beautiful girl who loves playing outside with her brothers and sister. She is intensely creative and loves to spend time with arts and crafts. She also has a sweet tooth that can rival any 5 year old around! Most of all, she is gentle, warm, exceptionally kind and one of those people who makes everyone around her happy. One day, a few years from now, it's likely that she will need a pacemaker to regulate her heart's rhythm, but otherwise she is in GREAT shape thanks to the dedication and tireless work from the world-class team at Children's.
Lola's parents are so incredibly honored that Peter is riding in Lola's name! We meet with Peter's dad once a year and each time feel a sincere appreciation for Lola's condition from Dr. Johannes von Alvensleben. He's so patient and thoughtful and always available to answer questions about this disease. COVID was a particularly scary time for us; yet Dr. Johannes was there to provide answers and give us confidence that Lola and her little heart are doing everything right. We are eternally grateful for the care, love and support we get from Dr. Johannes von Alvensleben!!"
Thank you so much for donating to support me and support Children's Hospital Colorado.
Peter
