My involvement with PICU (Pediatric ICU) kids started in the late 90's. Kids were coming out of surgery for their congenital heart defects with lots of scar tissue and lots of cardiac arrhythmias. Some of these kids were requiring repeated cardioversion shocks every year in the hospital. Imagine as a parent watching your child get shocked with paddles on a regular basis.
I researched the needs of Pediatric EP's on how to treat this with anti-tachy pacing instead of cardioversion, and then I worked with a development group creating such a pacemaker for adults and was able to expand it's capabilities for children.
As part of this effort I got to know several sets of parents of these kids who were desperate for the alternative this device could provide. Their kids had been going through multiple, complex open heart surgeries starting at birth and spent a lot of time in the PICU with each one.
My neighbor is a PICU physician at the Denver Childrens Hospital and recruited Rhonda and I to this annual fundraiser. I've gotten to know many of the other docs and nurses in the unit in the training rides for this event. Quite a few have adult patient experience but chose to make a career in the PICU because these kids fight hard to survive a situation that they had no ability to impact. There's a 1:1 nurse to patient ratio to keep them going.
So I am pedaling in the 2026 Courage Classic to raise money for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Denver Children's Hospital.
Rhonda & I will pedal with the PICU peloton July 18 (80 miles & 6700ft) and 19 (63 miles & 4600ft) from Copper Mountain, Colorado. I am extending this invitation to you to support the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit treating patients for life-threatening illnesses and events with skill, strength, and compassion.
Thank you,
Scott