Behind Kade Knobloch’s impressive golf skills is a journey of resilience and perseverance.
HOUSTON — Surrounded by professional golfers at Memorial Park’s driving range, Clear Brook High School senior Kade Knobloch’s swing fits seamlessly into the landscape of the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
But behind his impressive golf skills is a journey of resilience and perseverance.
“I was struggling in sports because of my chest,” he told KHOU 11’s Zack Tawatari.
A lifelong athlete, Knobloch had a natural talent for both baseball and golf, but his body was working against him.
“Every time I threw a pitch. Every time I swung a bat, I was absolutely gassed,” he said.
His parents, Eric and Shelly Knobloch, said their son was born with a small indentation in his chest.
“It kept getting deeper and deeper,” his mother said.
After seeking medical attention at Texas Children’s Hospital, doctors diagnosed Knobloch with pectus excavatum, a condition where the chest is caved in, putting pressure on the lungs and heart.
“Typically endurance problems and stamina problems, things where they’re trying to do aerobic activities and they’re really limited,” said Dr. Mark Mazziotti, a pediatric surgeon who treated Kade.
Mazziotti said the data showed the extremity of Kade’s case.
“We usually look at what’s called a Haller index, and if it’s above 3.2, they’re considered severe. Kade’s was 4.7,” he said.
Because Knobloch was still growing, his family had to wait before he could undergo surgery.
“It’s hard to see your child suffering like that. He’s trying to do something that he loved,” Shelly said.
During the waiting period, Kade continued competing in sports and playing the snare drum, but it was a struggle.
“The reason I needed the surgery was to fix that so I could breathe better,” Kade said.
Finally, during his freshman year of high school, Kade underwent surgery to implant a bar in his chest that helped relieve the pressure.
“Just my quality of life has increased because of their hard work and what they did,” he said.
The bar in Kade’s chest is supposed to be removed in July and the Knobloch’s hearts are full.
“The fact that I’m just able to play golf again and do sports again, just breathe again,” Kade said.