After the finish line: From NICU patient to NCH Columbus Marathon champion

When Karah Bentley, a customer solutions advocate at Bread Financial, was pregnant with her second child, Ethan, she was told by doctors that her baby’s heart and lungs were failing. Born 12 weeks early, Ethan was receiving lifesaving care in his birth hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), when he was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) – a condition marked by an erratic heartbeat and breathing difficulties that can lead to heart failure.  

“It was a parent’s worst nightmare, but after weeks of worry and the unknown, when Ethan was finally diagnosed with SVT, it was a step in the right direction,” Karah explained. “To find out the actual reason for some of his heart issues was a relief. It meant we could start to treat and monitor his heart better.”

While receiving care for SVT, Ethan’s heart rate fluctuated from high to low. Doctors soon discovered the cause of the fluctuation which presented an additional complication – the valve connecting Ethan’s pulmonary artery to his aorta was not closing properly. With Ethan needing a procedure called patient ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation, Karah soon learned that he would be transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Columbus for his care.    

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital was amazing through everything,” said Karah. “The doctors and nurses taught me so many things while he stayed there, while also making sure I was informed around the clock.” 

After recovering from surgery, Ethan was three months old when he was finally able to go home with his parents and big brother, though he was still considered a newborn due to his premature birth. For the next few years, he regularly visited NCH for follow-up appointments, and even today, he continues to check in with the cardiology team.  Ethan is now 14 years old, healthy and thriving. He enjoys playing sports and other outdoor activities, especially fishing.

When giving advice to other parents going through similar circumstances, Karah emphasizes it’s important to “just breathe.” She adds, “Everything can be so scary, and you can feel so helpless in the moment because as a parent all you want to do is make your child better and you must rely on others to do that. Trust your gut and be your child’s advocate. Know that you and your child will see better days!”  

This October, Ethan will have the opportunity to give back to the place that saved his life when he serves as a Mile Champion for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon.

A longtime community partner of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Bread Financial is also a supporter of the annual marathon held on Oct. 20 and will sponsor the seven-mile marker, where Ethan and his family will be cheering on runners.  

“The hospital saved Ethan’s life and allowed him to be a normal, healthy boy. It means a lot to me personally that Bread Financial has a relationship with Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” said Karah. “This marathon will be particularly memorable as we honor Ethan and support an important cause alongside my family, friends and colleagues.” 

About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 13,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.6 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities.

Since 2012, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been honored to be the title beneficiary of the Columbus Marathon. 2024 marks the twelfth year of our partnership. So far, more than $13 million has been raised for life-saving research and care.

More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.