Why Run?

When you look at Bailey Sechowski, you see a laughing, healthy baby who loves to give her stuffed animals kisses. However, this resilient child is no stranger to challenges.

During her pregnancy, Bailey’s mom, Megan, was told that her baby had a dangerously slow heart rate. Just two hours after she was born, Bailey was rushed to Children’s Memorial Hospital, where surgeons implanted a tiny pacemaker to regulate her heart’s rhythm at a more normal rate.

Bailey spent most of the next three months at the hospital. While recuperating from surgery, she was also diagnosed with a hole in her heart. Over time Bailey’s health improved, and after months spent at her bedside, Megan and husband Kevin were finally able to take their baby home. Several months later Bailey returned to the hospital to have the hole in her heart repaired in a minimally invasive procedure.
 
Megan and Kevin were so moved by the excellent care their baby received that they decided to give back. Kevin and his brother-in-law raised more than $3,500 running as members of the 2008 Children’s Memorial Marathon Team, and they plan to participate again this year.

Although Bailey will require larger pacemakers as she grows older, her prognosis is excellent. “We know she’ll face challenges ahead, but we expect her to live a long and happy life,” says Megan.