Tyler Reddick Races with Heart in Hand After Son’s Diagnosis
Pilot Tyler Reddick faced Sunday’s race with hope in his performance, as his family goes through a delicate moment. Recently, his wife revealed that their youngest son was diagnosed with a tumor in his chest, affecting his heart. Rookie, the second child of Tyler and Alexa Reddick, was born in May. Alexa shared last week that the little one is dealing with serious health problems. The couple offered an update before the race at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Tyler was starting from the pole position and needed a victory to stay in the fight for the Cup Series title. Shane van Gisbergen took the victory, eliminating Reddick from the playoffs. Reddick finished in tenth position. Alexa Reddick posted details on social media about Rookie’s condition following her husband’s outstanding classification. She mentioned that the baby has “a tumor that is ‘choking’ the renal vein and artery, telling the heart ‘Hey, I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder'”. This has caused an enlargement of the heart, and the 4-month-old baby will need to have a kidney removed because the doctors determined that it no longer works.He added that his son was happy spending time blowing bubbles, playing, and “interacting with every nurse and doctor who enters his room.” Tyler Reddick kept the health situation of his son private until his wife made it public before last week’s race at Kansas Speedway, revealing that Rookie was at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and showing signs of heart failure. Reddick addressed Rookie’s health in Charlotte.He will undergo open surgery to remove his right kidney. We are not sure when. Waiting is okay right now to give his heart a break while he is on blood pressure medication. They expect his heart to fully recover because it was just an innocent bystander. We have answers, but a journey ahead to bring our little Cookie home.
Alexa Reddick
Reddick, who reached the final of last year’s championship, entered Sunday’s race below the cut line for drivers. The group was reduced from 12 to eight after the race. The final four – Reddick, his 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Austin Cindric – were eliminated. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of Reddick’s car, said that 23XI Racing has provided support and has been involved in getting the best attention for Rookie.Healthier probably isn’t the right word, but I’ve never seen him happier. His color looks good. He’s gained weight. A lot of things are going well. That said, some of the most difficult moments are definitely yet to come. We’re definitely not out of the woods. There are a few things we have to get through first.
Tyler Reddick
Reddick expressed gratitude for the support he and his family have received and reflected on the emotional impact this has had on his family.We’ve tried to do everything we could as a company to leverage every possible resource, to get second, third opinions, all the things, put him in touch with specialists. We feel not relief, but it’s a small relief that they now understand the path forward, instead of not knowing.
Denny Hamlin
Countless people have helped. Countless people have reached out, offered support, whatever. It’s been really eye-opening. I agree with my wife, this is the hardest thing I’ve had to go through. Certainly, being away [last week] wasn’t ideal.
Tyler Reddick
