Tyler’s VIP Tour
Thirty years ago, I started riding in the Courage Classic because I believed Children's Hospital Colorado was one of the most important organizations in our community.
I never imagined that one day my own family would desperately need them.
Our son Tyler was only five weeks old when he underwent lung surgery at Children's. Watching your newborn head into surgery is something no parent is ever prepared for. Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and we believed the worst was behind us.
We were wrong.
Just weeks later, Tyler developed a high fever. As parents of three children, Beth and I assumed we were dealing with another childhood illness. But then came the late-night phone call that changed everything.
"Bring Tyler to Children's immediately."
Blood tests showed something was terribly wrong. For five agonizing days, doctors searched for answers while Tyler's condition continued to worsen. His fever wouldn't break. His heart rate soared above 200 beats per minute. His body was under attack, but no one knew why.
As parents, there is no feeling more helpless than watching your baby suffer while waiting for answers.
Then one physician suggested something extraordinarily rare—Kawasaki Disease.
Most hospitals may never encounter a case like Tyler's. There is no definitive test. The disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose, especially in infants. Left untreated, it can cause coronary artery aneurysms, permanent heart damage, or even death. The window for successful treatment is incredibly short.
Fortunately for Tyler, Children's Hospital wasn't just another hospital.
Because of years of private donations and community support, Children's had one of the nation's foremost experts in Kawasaki Disease on staff. Even though Tyler's symptoms didn't perfectly fit the textbook diagnosis, the medical team trusted their experience and began treatment before they had absolute proof.
That decision saved our son's life.
Tyler eventually required three rounds of treatment before the inflammation finally subsided. The coronary aneurysms appeared, but they stopped just short of becoming life-threatening. Years later, his doctors told us they had even used medications normally reserved for adult heart attack patients to protect his tiny heart.
Looking back, we know just how close we came to losing him.
None of us believe our child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor's child to become that one-in-a-million case. Until suddenly...they are.
But when Tyler became that child, Children's Hospital was ready.
Today he's 22 years old. He's healthy. He's strong. He's living the life we once feared he would never have.
Children's Hospital didn't just save our son's life—they gave him an entire future.
That's why I continue to ride in the Courage Classic. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for riding alongside us.
