Littleton, Colo., Oct. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It was an ordinary day in September 2014 when Katie and Chris McCarty attended their routine 20-week anatomy ultrasound. The Lakewood, Colo., couple was excited to learn the gender of their unborn child—they’d decided on the name Colin for a boy. Their excitement soon turned to devastation when their son was diagnosed with a giant omphalocele—a type of fetal hernia affecting one in 10,000 babies annually, where the intestines and other organs protrude outside of the infant’s body. The diagnosis was shattering. “We knew we couldn’t name our son Colin if he had colon issues,” Katie said, with a levity that wasn’t present as the family coped with their child’s devastating fetal health syndrome.
Tim McCarty, named after St. Timothy—the Catholic patron saint of stomach and intestinal disorders— was born on January 12, 2015 at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center. He was then brought down the hall to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC) where neonatologist Dr. David Randolph determined that Tim’s omphalocele was too large to be re-inserted into his 7-pound, 11-ounce, 20-inch body at one time.
Eight hours later, RMHC pediatric surgeon Dr. Steven Rothenberg performed Tim’s first surgery to insert a silo to protect his liver, bowel, and small and large intestines, which were sticking out of his belly button. Over the next week, Dr. Rothenberg and his team slowly re-inserted Tim’s organs into his body and closed the skin. Tim spent more than seven weeks in the RMHC neonatal intensive care unit and had six surgeries before his first birthday.
Tim is now a thriving 3-and-a-half-year-old who loves all sports and his new preschool. “He is an absolute miracle,” Katie said. “He’s full of energy, kind and compassionate with a great imagination.”
He’s also very excited to participate in the 15th annual Great Candy Run at Wash Park on November 11th. Presented by Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC), The Great Candy Run is the primary fundraiser for the nonprofit Fetal Health Foundation, which provides hope to families like the McCartys. The Foundation connects families affected by various fetal syndromes with leading medical specialists, shares medical information, awards research grants to improve fetal syndrome outcomes and increases awareness about fetal health. The entire McCarty family will be dressed as the Incredibles at The Great Candy Run, with Tim sporting his Dash costume.
The McCartys understand the importance of the Foundation’s work. Reflecting on the time they spent at RMHC, Katie said. “It’s so scary being a parent in this situation, but it felt like we were all a team. For every challenge we had, there were twice as many blessings. It’s made me and Chris better people.”
More than 6,000 people are expected to attend the 15th annual Great Candy Run Denver on November 11th. The family-friendly, candy-themed 5K run/walk will be held at Washington Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and includes lots of sweet extras including a free Coda Coffee Jelly Bean Kids Fun Run, costume contests, entertainment, mascots, custom medals for every finisher, prizes and a fun family expo with games, activities and a Jelly Belly Village.
Online registration and tickets are available at www.thegreatcandyrun.com/denver.
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About The Great Candy Run
The Great Candy Run benefits the Littleton-based Fetal Health Foundation, which is a leader nationally and internationally in supporting families and medical treatment centers dealing with intrauterine fetal syndromes. The 501c3 nonprofit organization connects families diagnosed with a fetal condition to top-rated medical specialists, funds research to improve outcomes in fetal conditions, boosts awareness of fetal condition diagnoses and provides a community of hope for families experiencing these medical challenges. Now in its 15th year, The Great Candy Run is the largest timed 5K in Colorado and has twice been named the "Best Kids Run” by Competitor magazine. More information is available at www.thegreatcandyrun.com.
About HealthONE’s Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s
Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC) at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s is a dedicated pediatric hospital and the anchor facility for HealthONE’s system of pediatric care. With more than 300 board-certified pediatric specialists and sub-specialists, RMHC has the largest Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Rocky Mountain region, the most experienced high-risk maternal fetal program, a world-renowned specialized center for minimally invasive surgery for infants and children and a nationally renowned institute for youth sports medicine, including a center focused on concussion. For more information, please visit www.rockymountainhospitalforchildren.com.
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