I ride to give hope to Children’s Hospital Colorado patients like Kai.
Kai was CHD was detected in utero. He was diagnosed with D-Transposition of the Great Arteries, Coarctation of the Aorta with Hypoplastic Arch, and a moderate Ventricular Septal Defect. His moms temporarily relocated from Wyoming to Colorado when his mom was 37 weeks pregnant. Kai was born at Children’s Hospital of Colorado and went straight to the Cardiac Intensive Care Institute. Just hours after his birth Kai underwent a balloon atrial septostomy. He struggled through the next couple of days and at just four days old his expert medical team decided he needed to have his open-heart surgery. Kai’s surgery was 10 hours long and he was on bypass for 246 minutes. When his incredible surgeon walked out to talk to Kai’s moms and grandpa, Dr. Mitchell said, “he takes a lickin’ and keeps on kickin”, with a thumbs up. Kai spent the next week in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. After transferring to the Cardiac Progressive Care Unit Kai worked on healing, growing, and feeding. Kai’s left vocal cord was paralyzed because of his complex surgery which was causing silent aspiration. Kai underwent another procedure to place a gastrostomy tube (g-tube) for feeding. Just days before turning a month-old Kai was released from Children’s Hospital of Colorado and cleared to return home to Wyoming to meet his siblings and other family. Kai as his family continue to make frequent trips to Colorado for Kai’s medical care – cardiac and digestive. Kai participates in Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy to close the gap in developmental delays. Today he is a thriving two-year-old who loves Paw Patrol, his strider bike, animals, water play, and absolutely anything that lets him be outside. Kai brings so much joy to those around him and truly has a mended heart of gold.
The Courage Classic is an opportunity to support positive outcomes and healthier futures for kids like Kai.
