There was a time when We Cover Cheer was a big part of my life. I spent many years traveling around the country photographing teams and writing up stories. I met so many amazing people along the journey.

Then in 2019, everything changed.

My son John Robert was born with a congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. At just four months old, he underwent open heart surgery. Like many families who suddenly find themselves navigating hospital visits, uncertainty and long days that blur together, life as we knew it had to be put on hold.

Work paused. Plans paused. Everything else took a backseat to making sure our son had what he needed.

Many of you who have been involved in cheer or dance for any length of time understand this. Life does not stop because it is competition season. Athletes get injured. Families face challenges. Coaches balance far more than people realize behind the scenes.

We all go through seasons where something more important requires our full attention.

This week is Heart Awareness Week and even though it still makes me emotional to talk or type about, I felt it was important to share a little bit of our story. If you are a parent navigating a congenital heart diagnosis or have walked that road before, please know you are not alone.

Walking through open heart surgery with our son changed me in ways I did not expect. It gave me a deeper understanding that everyone we meet is likely carrying something we cannot see.

Today, John Robert is six years old and thriving. In a full circle moment, he has started asking questions about cheer and dance and we are even looking into getting him involved in open gyms so he can experience the sport that meant so much to me.

That perspective is one of the reasons I felt ready to return to We Cover Cheer.

Because now I understand in a very real way that every athlete, every coach and every parent is showing up with their own story. Some seasons require us to press pause. Other seasons give us the strength to come back.

We survived open heart surgery as a family. That changes how you view challenges moving forward.

It has also strengthened my commitment to this community because I know that the moments we capture matter even more than we realize at the time.

If you are part of the congenital heart disease community and would like to connect, please feel free to reach out. As parents, we know how important it is to have someone who understands what you are walking through.

Bobby Ericson
Owner