Reid Shadle: Defying the odds, Kid Captain

CEDAR RAPIDS - Reid Shadle, 12, of Cedar Rapids, has been selected to be Kid Captain for the Hawkeyes' Orange Bowl game on Jan. 5.

Diagnosed with a severe aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the heart's aortic valve, while still in the womb, Reid was given only a small chance of even surviving until birth.

Defying the odds, he was born at a healthy weight, but had his first of six open-heart surgeries at just 13 days old.

Reid, son of Craig and Vicki Shadle, has a tenacious spirit, a positive outlook, and a love - among other things - of Hawkeye sports.

The Kid Captain program, initiated in 2009, is a partnership between University of Iowa Children's Hospital and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The program honors UI Children's Hospital patients and celebrates their inspirational stories.

Children chosen as Kid Captains all are dealing with life-changing and in many cases life-threatening medical issues.

Reid has been a patient at the hospital since his parents were referred there early in his mother's pregnancy.

At just 13 days old, an open-heart surgery restructured his heart and circulatory system to deliver more blood to his body. He's had multiple procedures and has overcome respiratory infections, low blood oxygen levels, and other setbacks.

Having a stent enlarged or IV port removed counts as a small triumph for Reid and his family.

Most recently, Reid was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, which his medical team is treating with immunosuppression therapy. It's a serious medical issue on top of ongoing concerns about his heart.

“He has two complex conditions that we're trying to balance,” Vicki Shadle says.

Despite the challenges, Reid is active and outgoing. The youngest of three children, he likes boating and the out-of-doors, shooting baskets in the driveway, and playing the family's Wii and other video games.

An avid Hawkeye football fan who attends at least one home game a year, as an honorary Kid Captain, Reid will receive a commemorative jersey. He will not attend the game, but will cheer on the Hawkeyes from home as they take on Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

“On a daily basis, Reid is a positive leader for everyone in his life while undergoing difficult medical treatments,” Vicki says.