Joe-tato practicing for the Courage Classic!
I am riding in the Courage Cruise to support kiddos just like me!
My story:
In March of 2025, Joey entered the world and for two weeks appeared to be a normal newborn. However, at 14 days old he took a dramatic turn and went into cardiogenic shock, requiring immediate admission to the cardiac ICU at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In those early days in the CICU, the team would come to diagnose Joey with a heart condition stemming from a genetic anomaly requiring assessment for heart transplant.
Joey spent 47 days in the hospital, 37 of which in the CICU. From intubation, paralysis, and sedation in his first week at the hospital, he graduated to a place of stability where he could discharge home. He has spent the last year catching up on as many normal baby activities as possible, while also navigating having an NG tube for 312 days, enduring countless echos, labs, and appointments, plus taking up to 6 medications twice a day.
During those months in the hospital, the Heart Institute and CICU teams became family. Because Joey was so new to the world, a nickname hadn’t yet been decided for him. Every morning during rounds his care team would help workshop a new nickname and it quickly became the unit game of finding new monikers for him. Depending on who you ask, his name could be JT, JoJo, Kokomo Joe, Joe-nut the Donut, or the beloved Joe-tato Chip. Joey’s family now refers to many of the nurses on his care team as his aunties, uncles, and cousins thanks to the love they showed Joey and his parents.
Since discharging, the Heart Institute continues to be Joey's extended family- from Dr. Auerbach and PA Jean Cavanaugh closely watching his heart during monthly check ups, RD Amanda and OT Reagan leading the charge during his NG tube wean, and Courtnee greeting the family with warmth everytime Joey visits the Children's Campus- Each person on the team brings the family such joy. A special shout out to the on-call team/fellows who have answered MANY late night frantic calls from the family when Joey attempted to pull nonsense at odd hours.
While Joey will require lifelong monitoring and continued evaluation for heart transplant, he and his family are endlessly thankful to the CICU and Heart Institute for saving his life.