Help Kyle raise money

My story began when doctors discovered a congenital heart condition (bicuspid aortic value and coarctation of the aorta) shortly after birth. At the age of four, I underwent open-heart surgery. My aortic value was monitored throughout my childhood with pediatric cardiologists. In 2020, I underwent a successful valve-sparing root replacement procedure at UPMC Shadyside.

In December 2021, I had the joy of watching my first child, Kaden, be born.  I waited with anxious anticipation as he was taken for a newborn echo to evaluate him for the heart condition I lived my entire life with.  The doctors reported good news and were optimistic that his heart would remain in perfect anatomical condition as he continued to grow.  In March 2022, we took Kaden to what we thought would be a precautionary, routine visit for a few symptoms we were noticing.  The visit ended with his admission to Children’s Hospital and a two-day stay filled with MRIs, full body x-rays, and blood tests to look for potential tumors along Kaden’s sympathetic nerve chain.  We are thankful that the tests found no presence of tumors.

Having to watch your 3-month-old son lie in a hospital crib with IV lines and being asked to help hold his limbs while they take countless x-rays of every bone in his body was a challenge I never imagined I’d have to face as a new parent.  I saw first-hand the incredible work that the medical and staff team members do and experienced the care they provided to my son, to my wife, and me.  Their constant reassurance, willingness to provide comfort any way they could, and gentle nature with Kaden made all the difference in a very stressful time.  As a child patient and the parent of an infant patient, I’m grateful to UPMC Children’s Hospital and am running to raise money to support the incredible and life-changing work they do.

I’ve run the Pittsburgh Marathon four times and the Pittsburgh Half Marathon four times, but this year I have a bigger goal.  My goal is to raise enough money to qualify for the back half – an opportunity given to top fundraisers to run the second half of the marathon course as a half marathon.   After a long road of cardiac reconditioning post-surgery, I'm grateful for the ability to run.  I can’t wait to run by our house in Bloomfield on the back half and wave at my son Kaden as he stands on the sidewalk to cheer me on.