Tyler Reddick faces personal challenges while competing
The driver Tyler Reddick competed on Sunday with his championship hopes at stake, after it was revealed that his newborn son was diagnosed with a chest tumor affecting his heart. Rookie, the second child of Tyler and Alexa Reddick, was born in May. Alexa revealed last week that the baby has been dealing with serious health complications. The couple provided an update before the race at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Tyler started from the pole and needed a win to stay in contention for the Cup title. Shane van Gisbergen won the race, eliminating Reddick from the playoffs. Reddick finished in tenth position. Alexa Reddick shared a social media update on Rookie’s condition after Tyler achieved pole position, indicating that he has a “tumor that is ‘choking’ the renal vein and renal 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 playing with bubbles, playing and “interacting with every nurse and doctor who enters his room”. Tyler Reddick had kept his son’s health situation private until his wife made the situation public before last week’s race at Kansas Speedway, when she revealed that Rookie was at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and was showing signs of heart failure. Reddick talked about Rookie’s health in Charlotte. “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,” Reddick said. “All that being said, some of the most difficult moments are definitely ahead. We’re definitely not out of the woods. There are some things we have to get through first.” “So, on the one hand, I’m very happy, and it makes me feel great that he’s doing much better right now, but we certainly have some hurdles to overcome first before even thinking about leaving the hospital or what comes next.” Reddick, who reached the final that decided last year’s championship, entered Sunday’s race below the cut line for the drivers. The field 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. “For me, this weekend, where we’re at points, is what it is,” Reddick said. “I’m going to go out and give it my best while I’m here, certainly. For me, this week, the elimination, everything that’s going on in the racing world is taking a back seat, as it should.” Denny Hamlin, co-owner of Reddick’s car, said that 23XI Racing has provided support and has participated in getting the best attention for Rookie. “We’ve tried to do everything we can as a company to leverage every possible resource, to get second, third opinions, everything, put it in touch with specialists,” Hamlin said. “We feel, not a relief, but it’s a small relief that they now understand what the path forward is, instead of not knowing.” “I can’t imagine being in their shoes. They have enough to think about. I’m sure they’re probably breathing a sigh of relief that they’re still going out there to do their job at a high level, given everything that’s going on off the track.” Reddick started alongside van Gisbergen, who won for the fifth consecutive time on a road or street circuit. The New Zealander was the big favorite, and any driver hoping to avoid elimination from the playoffs needed to beat van Gisbergen. Meanwhile, Reddick thanked for the support that he and his family have received and reflected on the emotional impact this has had on his family. “Countless people have helped,” Reddick said. “Countless people have reached out, provided support, you name it. 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.” “That was a decision my wife and I came to when I was in Kansas. It was going in the right direction. Yes, as I said, great things ahead that we have to fix, but during that previous weekend, it was stable and going in the right direction. It was difficult to stay and run [in Kansas], but we agreed.” “I just wanted to get off that plane really badly on Sunday night and go back to the hospital.”“He will undergo open surgery to remove his right kidney. We are not sure when,” she wrote. “Waiting is okay right now to give his heart a break while he is on blood pressure medication. They are hoping his heart will fully recover because it was just an innocent bystander. We have answers, but a journey ahead to bring our little Cookie home.”
Alexa Reddick
