Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/2/2021

Gralund Plays With Heart Of A Champion

Jerry Miller

Photo: Addison Gralund (Perfect Game)

At first glance, the Gralund family from Marion, Iowa is not unlike most Midwestern folks. Tight knit. Friendly. Invested, especially in their children and grandchildren. It doesn’t take one long to realize, however, that this hearty clan of Iowans is anything but typical.

Truncus Arteriosus (TRUNG-kus ahr-teere-O-sus), as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is a rare heart defect that’s present at birth (congenital). If you or your baby has truncus arteriosus, it means that one large blood vessel leads out of the heart. Normally, there are two separate vessels coming out of the heart.

Additionally, there is usually a hole – known as a ventricular septal defect – between the lower chambers of the heart. As a result of truncus arteriosus, oxygen-poor blood that should go to the lungs and oxygen-rich blood that should go to the rest of the body are mixed. That creates severe circulatory problems.

Untreated, truncus arteriosus can be fatal. Surgery to repair truncus arteriosus is generally successful, especially if the repair occurs before a baby is one month old.

One month old, that is how old Addison Gralund was when she had her first open heart surgery for truncus arteriosus. She has had three subsequent major open heart surgeries, all at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., since that first one in early 2007. In addition to the four major surgeries, the Gralund’s estimate that there have been 10-12 additional procedures, all at Mayo.

Ben and Kristina Gralund’s youngest daughter, Addison, “Addie”, is a freshman at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. She plays multiple positions on the softball team at Linn-Mar, but is especially fond of pitching. In addition, Addie plays for the Eastern Iowa Select 16U squad, a team that went undefeated winning their pool at the PG Iowa Showcase event this past weekend. That club is coached by her dad, Ben. The ear-to-ear smile paints a picture of shear joy when Addie gets to talk about softball. She says softball makes her forget about her physical situation. Playing makes her happy. That is evident.

Ben and Kristina have two girls. Hannah, who is a senior at Linn-Mar, is also a softball player. She is also Addie’s role-model. Both Hannah and Addie are stellar students who want to be physicians.

“I want to be a heart surgeon,” Addie said with a smile. "Because I have lived the life.”

Hannah and Addie’s grandparents were at the Napoleon Complex on Saturday, sitting in the stifling heat that was gripping southeast Iowa, supporting their granddaughters. None complained and when anyone quizzes them about their children and grandchildren, a proud smile crosses their faces.

Ben’s parents, Chris and Jenette Gralund, and their faithful pup Wrigley live in Anamosa, Iowa and according to Jenette “travel all over the country” watching grandkids play and perform. They appear especially happy watching their miracle grandchild, Addie, and older sister Hannah, play softball. The pride in their grandchildren is obvious and both Chris and Jenette share numerous stories of their many trips around the nation.

The same goes for Kristina’s parents, Dave and Jeannine Zimmerman of Waukon, Iowa. Jeannine proudly boasts of their nine grandkids and their exploits, while watching Hannah pitch for her 18U club in Saturday’s pool play games. The same pride in each of their children and grandchildren gushes forth with every word and sentence.

Ben and Kristina have done yeoman’s work as parents of and for their two daughters. Hannah and Addie, all things considered, appear well-adjusted and full of life and joy. It would be easy for Hannah to feel slighted. She doesn’t. Her personality in one brief encounter shows that she is mature beyond her years and is happy in her role as Addie’s big sister. Kristina says Addie “adores her sister” and tries to emulate her in almost every way. That includes trips to the weight room where according to mom, “Hannah works endlessly.”

That dedication has rubbed off on Addie as she joins her sister in workouts. The strength Addie has gained has unquestionably helped her health and her game.

Addie is very comfortable in her own skin. She understands fully her condition and is completely open to talk about it with anyone who shows interest and will listen, especially if the end goal is to spread knowledge and understanding.

“Challenges,” she stated matter-of-factly, “must be turned into opportunities.”

She loves the challenge of playing softball. She is unafraid, and even takes the time to show off the protective plate she wears under her uniform to guard her fragile heart. She laughs when she takes the chest-protector type pad out to show everyone.

“I really want to play college ball,” Addie said, emphasizing that second word. Her talent dictates that she will unquestionably get that chance. She also knows that there will be more trips to the Mayo Clinic as at least one more major surgery is on the horizon.

Addie, and her parents and grandparents, readily admit that there have been setbacks along the way. But, at least for this weekend, there were nothing but smiles as the Gralunds head to another field for another game.

When asked is she is an inspiration to others, Addie says she doesn’t really know or think about that all that much. She does admit however, that, ”Dad has told me that I’m his inspiration. So, maybe I am.”

She smiles again and puts her chest plate back under her uniform and walks to watch big sister play. All is right in Addie’s world, even with the challenges most of us would crater from.

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