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Meet the 2018 Kansas City Market Champion, Preston Walker!

We are excited to announce Preston Walker as our 2018 Kansas City Market Champion.  Preston will be featured on various campaigns throughout the year to localize all fundraising efforts for CMN of Greater Kansas City.

Preston has been treated at KU Pediatrics for over six years for a variety of reasons.  Preston and his twin brother, Reid, made their way into the world on November 18, 2011.  They both spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at birth, but Reid was able to go home after 5 weeks.  Preston, however, was diagnosed with Failure to Thrive and Atresia of the right ear.  He was transferred to KU Medical Center to undergo a scope of his airway.  While under anesthesia, he had a laryngospasm, causing him to code on the table and forcing doctors to perform an emergency tracheotomy to save his life.  After two more months in the NICU at KU, Preston was able to join his twin brother at home, but his medical journey didn’t end there.  When he was 18 months old, Preston had his first airway reconstruction surgery and when he was three years old, he was finally able to have his trach permanently removed.  He has had an additional airway reconstruction surgery since then and is breathing better than ever!  In addition, Preston has had multiple surgeries on his right ear, the most recent in November of 2017 to permanently mount his Bone Anchored Hearing Aid.

Today, Preston is the healthiest he has ever been.  His breathing is fantastic and this is hopefully the end of the road for his for airway surgeries.  He loves playing hockey in the driveway, spending time with his brother and playing Legos.  He has a lively spirit, loves to laugh and tell jokes and wants to be a Spy Agent when he grows up!