Russ has been a participant in the Annual Courage Classic for the past two years. The Courage Classic is a 3-day 160-mile bike ride through the Rocky Mountains that benefits The Children’s Hospital in Denver.  Every year we go to the mountains with a group of friends from Compassion International.  Some ride and some drop off, pick up and cheer at the finish line.  Every year Russ makes a valiant effort to raise money to benefit the hospital (and he does a pretty good job at it). However, this year Russ will be more than just a participant raising money for a good cause. This year Russ will ride as one who has darkened the doors of that hospital personally. This year he will ride as someone who knows what it’s like to bring your child to a place where, in an ideal world, children shouldn’t have to go.  He has been there as a father.  He has made that early drive to Denver to assure we’re not late for coveted appointments.  He has sat nervously in the waiting room waiting to hear his son’s name called.  He has watched as fathers have wheeled their child down the hall in specialized wheelchairs or cradled their newborns in their arms along with all of the accompanying medical equipment.  He has seen the look of exhaustion and tireless effort in other fathers’ eyes.  He has exchanged knowing glances with a passerby in the Metabolics hallway . . . glances that say a thousand words in one second . . . glances that say “we shouldn’t be here.”  My child shouldn’t be here.  And he has sat in an exam room while some of the most knowledgeable and compassionate doctors we have ever encountered gently examined our son.  He has sat in a room while a Genetics Counselor named Cathlin Rice who is kind and generous and everything any counselor should be explained Lowe Syndrome to two scared and overwhelmed parents.  This year Russ rides as more than a participant.  This year he rides to honor Kai whom we were blessed to have as our son for two months.  But he also rides to honor the people who made those dreadful trips to Denver just a little easier.  He rides to honor the courteous young men who valet park your car for free because when your kid is sick, parking your car is something you shouldn’t have to bother with.  He rides to honor the phlebotomists who were masters at drawing blood from Kai’s tiny veins.  And he rides to honor all of the Cathlin Rice’s of the Denver Children’s Hospital.  These are the people that brought glimpses of grace into some very dark days for us.  And to these people, we will be forever grateful.

- Rebecca