23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick arrived in Charlotte with his championship hopes on the line, all while facing an unthinkable battle off the track. His infant son, Rookie Reddick, has been diagnosed with a tumor in his chest that’s affecting his heart.
Reddick and his wife, Alexa, welcomed their second son in May, but last week, Alexa revealed that the baby has been dealing with severe health complications linked to the tumor.
While the ROVAL eliminator saw the No. 45 driver’s hopes come crashing down, with Shane van Gisbergen taking the win, Alexa offered a heartfelt update ahead of Reddick’s Vegas run, sharing that their son now has a scheduled date for surgery to remove his right kidney.
Tyler Reddick’s Wife Alexa Offers Heartfelt Update on Son Ahead of Vegas
Alexa first shared the heartbreaking news on Sept. 28, revealing that their four-month-old son, Rookie, was facing serious health complications. In a following social media post, she explained that doctors had detected signs of heart failure, prompting an urgent trip to Levine Children’s Hospital, where the baby was admitted to the cardiovascular ICU.
In their consequent update, the Reddick family disclosed that doctors had found a tumor compressing the infant’s renal vein and artery, hence forcing his heart to work overtime and leading to enlargement.
However, doctors soon discovered the tumor’s impact was much more severe; experts found that Rookie’s right kidney was not functioning any longer. Alexa shared that their little boy will soon undergo open surgery to remove his right kidney in hopes of resolving the issue.
In a heartfelt note on the same post, she thanked all those who had offered prayers and support during their family’s difficult time – “We’re happy, we’re talking, blowing bubbles, playing, & interacting with every nurse & doctor that comes in his room. Thank you thank you to everyone who’s reached out. I see your kind words.”
Ahead of Reddick’s Vegas run, Alexa once again shared an update with her followers, revealing that doctors have now set a date for their son’s surgery to remove his non-functioning right kidney.
In an Instagram story, she noted, “Rookie will have surgery Tuesday. He will return to CVICU where they will monitor his heart and BP while his renin slowly drops.” Mrs. Reddick encouraged everyone to keep the prayers coming, holding onto hope that everything will go well. “Please keep lifting our cookie up in prayer.”
Via Alexa Reddick’s Instagram Story
Reddick hasn’t been able to be as present while the family navigates this health scare, with his racing commitments taking him to Kansas and Nevada. Rookie is the couple’s second son, following their first child, Beau, who was born in January 2020.