Heart patient is in peak form as he climbs Grand Teton

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

As Collin Tiek looked out over the breathtaking scene from the top of the Grand Teton in Wyoming, his mind was properly blown.

“God blessed me with the strength and opportunity to be up there, and to look out on all he created for us was just amazing.”

Thirty-nine years ago, he was a critically ill newborn whose future seemed anything but bright. But last month, he climbed the tallest peak in the mountain range (13,775 feet) with a guide and his uncle by his side and his heart full of gratitude for Riley Hospital for Children.

Born in 1987 with serious heart defects, including transposition of the great vessels, a large ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis, he might not have survived except for the care of an “A team” of surgeons, physicians, nurses and therapists at Riley.

But God had a hand in their son’s healing as well, say Dale and Jane Tiek, who remember the dark days of Collin’s journey with congenital heart defects.

“I was an OB nurse at our local hospital and had an uneventful pregnancy, so we were shocked when he had problems after he was born,” said Jane Tiek.

Today’s modern scans can pick up heart defects early in pregnancy, giving parents and doctors time to create a care plan around the baby’s birth and subsequent treatment.

In 1987, the technology for diagnosing, much less treating, serious heart defects in babies was in its infancy. But Riley was at the forefront of that care.

The day after he was born, the Oaktown, Indiana, couple’s son was taken to a hospital in Vincennes, then to another in Evansville, before being transported to Riley the following day.

There they met cardiologist Dr. Randall Caldwell, who would go on to become their lifeline.

“We were immediately impressed with his intelligence and his compassion,” Jane said, adding how she also appreciated his honesty.

“I remember him telling me one time, ‘I’ll answer all your questions as best I can, but before you ask the question, make sure you want to know the answer.’ He did a great job of keeping us informed and calm but also letting us know how serious it was.”

Though the doctors didn’t sugarcoat their son’s condition, they and the rest of the team offered hope, she said, and that was worth holding onto, even when it was the tiniest sliver of hope.

“It’s easy to lose that hope when your child has a serious health problem. They encouraged us, and that’s so important for parents. That’s a gift. That’s what sets Riley apart.”

Collin would go on to have multiple medical procedures, including two surgeries by Dr. John Brown, with an assist from Dr. Mark Turrentine.

“We are forever grateful for these three men and all the healthcare workers at Riley,” Jane said. “Because of their incredible work, our son stood on the summit of the Grand Tetons (last month) after ascending almost 14,000 feet. For parents going through something like this, I hope it gives them some hope and encouragement to see a 39-year-old congenital heart kid standing on top of a mountain.”

Growing up, Collin was always active despite his heart conditions. He played sports, swam and skied.

“With my mom being a nurse, she understood more than some parents the importance of staying active,” he said.

He graduated from Purdue University, and he and his wife, Amy, have two children. Collin operates a small farm, while Amy is a veterinarian. He continues to get annual cardiology checkups at Riley, a practice not unusual with congenital heart patients.

He acknowledges that it used to feel strange coming to a children’s hospital as an adult, but he feels a sense of loyalty to the hospital that he credits for saving his life.

“I can never say enough good things about Riley.”

His mom has quite a lot to say as well.

“Riley just holds a very special place in all of our hearts. I knew it was a great place, but until you experience it as a mom you don’t realize how blessed the state of Indiana is to have a facility like that, and not just the expertise but the way they cater to families, the way they do everything in their power to make it as good as it can be,” she said.

Obviously, the day her son was summitting the mountain was scary for her. In fact, she didn’t learn of his plans until shortly before the climb was to begin. And she was home in Indiana at the time.

“To this day I say to my husband I think we downplayed his condition a little too much because Collin has never recognized any limitations,” she said with a laugh. “When I heard he was climbing the Grand, I said to Dale we really didn’t stress enough about his heart.”

Just as she prayed for her son’s life to be saved as a baby, she prayed the morning he was on that mountain.

“I felt like God was saying to me, today you’re praying for your baby boy to get to the top of the Grand, but I remember the days when you were just praying to let him live.”

Hope, fear and gratitude live in those prayers, then and now.