In today’s edition of This Hits Different, Shelby Cassesse tells the story of North Allegheny swimmers Hayden and Nick Klein, who have battled through cystic fibrosis to thrive in the pool.
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NA swimmers persevering through cystic fibrosis
For competitive swimmers, the alarm goes off pretty early in the morning. For the Klein brothers. It's even earlier.
“Hearing that 4:20 a.m. alarm is awful,” said Hayden Klein.
North Allegheny swimmers Hayden and Nick Klein have cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that produces chronic thick mucus in the lungs and can cause lung infections. The Klein brothers were diagnosed as babies, so Hayden says it's just part of life.
“It’s the only thing I’ve really ever known," Hayden Klein said. "I’ve had to do treatments twice a day, every day, for 30 minutes each… times two. That’s really all I’ve ever known.”
Hayden, who is a senior, and Nick, a freshman, are up before swim practice to do their first treatment, wearing a vest that vibrates to help loosen the mucus. They'll do the same thing one more time after school.
Hayden says swimming isn't too different for him and his brother compared to his teammates, but there is a little bit of added difficulty.
“It can be tough, especially if the air quality in some of these pools is bad,” Hayden Klein said. “It can be tough. You’ve got to make sure you stay hydrated and that you’re getting enough salt in.”
But the Klein brothers don't use that as an excuse. They don't talk about it much at all. In fact, their coach Corky Semler said he didn't even know Nick and Hayden have cystic fibrosis until an overnight trip for a meet. Packed along with their swim gear, was their vest.
“They don’t wear it on their sleeve, they don’t talk about it,” Semler said. “They just do it.”
Treatments, hitting the pool deck before and after school, plus classes, family and friends.
Nick Klein says it can all be demanding, but one thing makes it a lot easier.
“Although it’s difficult, it’s good to know that I’m not alone in this and that I have my brother there with me and we can do this together,” he said. “My brother is someone I can rely on through this.”
Their health may not be something Nick and Hayden always talk about, but Semler says their relationship is a much different story.
“These two, in that instance, do wear their emotions on their sleeves,” Semler said. “And I think it’s quite healthy, it’s quite refreshing also. And it really allows you to draw closer to them.”
Nick and Hayden say they've always been close, a connection forged by years of leaping the same health hurdles and playing the same sport.
But this year is special. Nick Klein says swimming on the same team for the first time made a tight relationship even closer.
“In the past, we haven’t trusted each other as much with personal stuff,” he said. “And I feel like we’ve totally opened up to each other, became vulnerable and connected on a deeper level."
The feeling is mutual for Hayden Klein, who headed for Saint Vincent College in the fall.
“I always wanted to show hm that you can do it, you can rise above it,” he said. “No one is telling you no. And that’s something I’ve always wanted to tell him and show him and I think he’s kind of followed my footsteps.“
Teammates in the pool for only short while, but these brothers have been teammates all their lives. They plan to keep it that way, even from a distance.
“I have him by my side the entire time,” Hayden added. “He knows what it’s like. We can work together, rise above and be part of the same story. We can impact others.”