I am dedicating my 14th(!) Courage Classic ride this year to Luke, one of my Wyoming heart warriors who I have the privilege to travel and see in one of Children's Hospital Colorado's many outreach clinics. Your support helps doctors like me be able to bring world-class cardiac care to families closer to home. Read on to hear Luke's incredible story as told by his mom :) Thanks for your support!
"Luke was diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis and hypoplastic right heart syndrome at just 30 weeks in utero. We delivered him in Denver at 36 weeks, and shortly after birth, his condition rapidly declined. Luke was placed on ECMO for four days, a life-saving intervention that gave him a fighting chance.
His journey since then has been nothing short of extraordinary. He’s faced and overcome challenge after challenge. One of the key turning points was the successful ballooning of his pulmonary valve, which has held strong and helped Luke continue to grow and thrive.
In addition to his complex heart condition, Luke also has Soto Syndrome, which can impact heart pressure and adds another layer of complexity to his care. But through it all, Luke has shown incredible strength. Now, just shy of two years old, we are so grateful to watch him smile, laugh, and grow into a little boy full of life, love, and determination.
Dr. Tsen rides for kids like Luke, to raise awareness, support critical research, and fund life-changing care. Your support helps make it possible for top pediatric heart specialists to travel across the region, bringing expert care to kids like Luke in their hometowns. This reduces the need for long, stressful trips and hospital stays, and allows our heart warriors to spend more time where they belong at home, playing with their siblings and being kids."
