Giving Back to Southern Colorado for a Lifetime of Care
July 15, 2025
Children’s Hospital Colorado has been part of the Devolve family’s lives since their son Noah was a few days old.
Shortly after he was born, Noah was transferred to Children’s Colorado, where doctors discovered that he had a congenital heart defect. When Noah was just 18 days old, pediatric cardiologists at the Children’s Colorado Heart Institute performed open heart surgery to repair his heart.
Since then, the hospital has been by Noah’s side every step of the way — from four orthopedic surgeries to correct skeletal deformities in his lower limbs and taking his tonsils out, to helping him recover after being hospitalized for a life-threatening traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Over nearly two decades, Noah, now 24, has been treated by Children’s Colorado’s departments of cardiology, neurology, psychology, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat, or ENT) and orthopedics. And because the hospital has been so instrumental in saving Noah’s life multiple times, his family committed to meaningful ways to give back.
Pedaling to Support Care in Colorado Springs
Melissa, Noah’s mom, started a team for the annual Courage Classic Bicycle Tour to fundraise for southern Colorado. She captained the region’s first team, aptly named Courage from the Springs.
Participating in the Courage Classic Bicycle Tour was a highlight for the Devolves every summer. Melissa and other family members would often ride in the event, while Noah handed out participation medals at the finish line to cyclists. “It meant so much to see so many people supporting the institution that saved my life,” said Noah.
For Melissa, the rides were a way to show her gratitude. Out on the road among beautiful mountain scenery, she reflected on seeing people who helped them along their way. “It just really resets your mind, reminding you of what’s important and why,” said Melissa, of the cycling experience. “And how important the hospital is in the state and the region. It’s just kind of healing—a celebration like a homecoming.”
Entertainment for Patients and Families
From the very first moments Melissa and her husband, Kevin, were in Children’s Colorado with newborn Noah, they often visited the ball machine, an artful kinetic rolling ball sculpture. They watched parents and their small children being mesmerized by the movement of the balls.
As Noah recovered in the hospital for weeks after fighting to stay alive, Melissa said, “I really prayed that I could do that with him one day. It’s such a hypnotic, meditative space.” Then in 2014, when 14-year-old Noah—who became a Patient Ambassador for Children’s Colorado that year—stood entranced by the ball machine, Melissa thought, “My prayers have been answered.”
That’s when the family decided to give a gift that would bring a ball machine to the Colorado Springs hospital for parents, caregivers and children to enjoy there as well.
“It’s in such a beautiful space,” said Melissa. “I hear from friends and family who say it’s such a cool thing to watch and take a break from the hospital.” The makers of the ball machine incorporated many personal elements from Noah’s journey in the sculpture design, including violins, bears and hearts.
From Patient Ambassador to Physician
Today, after all that he has been through, Noah plans to become a doctor himself and is in his first year of medical school at the University of South Florida. He believes that having a kids’ hospital in Colorado Springs is critical.
One of the best places for children to heal is in their own homes and when you bring a state-of-the art facility closer to kids’ homes, you get better results.
Noah
Children’s Colorado is grateful for donors like the Devolves, a family who was inspired by their experience to give back to the hospital that saved their son.