As a young child, WaKeeney’s Garrett Malsam was resigned to the likelihood that playing sports wasn't going to be an option.

Malsam was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick and makes it hard for the heart to pump blood. 

“After they discovered it, I had to take some medication until I was 6 and that’s when I got my pacemaker in me,” Malsam said. 

When Malsam was just a few months old, doctors told his parents, Neil and Ingrid Malsam, that Garrett would likely be forced to have a heart transplant at some point. 

That scenario arrived when Malsam was just 10 years old following a serious episode at school. 

“It took around two or three months to get everything set up for me and get the heart ready for me to actually have the transplant,” Malsam said. 

On Thanksgiving Day of 2020, Malsam became the 31st child to receive a heart transplant at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. 

It wasn’t long after the transplant that sports and endurance activities suddenly became feasible for Malsam. 

“We kind of had to warm up into it,” Malsam said. “I had to go on walks with my mom after the procedure while we were still in Kansas City. Once we got back to WaKeeney, I was was free to do pretty much whatever I wanted, sportswise.

“I really felt it was all behind me when I came back to WaKeeney.”

Nearly four years after getting his new lease on life, Malsam takes nothing for granted when it comes to exploring his opportunities at Trego High School.

The freshman is already participating in cross country for the Golden Eagles. He plans on playing basketball in the winter and is leaning toward tennis in the spring. 

“When I was younger, I just accepted it and knew I couldn’t (do sports). I didn’t know there was such a thing as a heart transplant when I was that young,” Malsam said. “Then once I could (play), I felt more free to do stuff.

“I appreciate it more because not everyone gets an opportunity to do sports. I wasn’t able to for a long time but then I finally got the chance.”

Trego athletic director Jeremy Samson has marveled at how far Malsam has come. 

“Last year, seeing him at a junior high basketball game, I remember looking at my wife and saying ‘It’s a miracle to see that kid out there playing basketball,’” Samson said. “Now you see this kid out there and he’s planning on being a three-sport athlete.

“He’s got a built-in excuse where he could just do nothing, but he’s out there making the best of this experience. There’s kids walking around all over the place with an excuse of why they’re not involved in stuff. But you see this kid out here doing all the stuff, and it’s just a miracle after what he had to go through.”

Malsam never got overwhelmed during his heart issues.

“I was just doing whatever they were telling me to do and just going with whatever I had to do to get cleared,” he said. “I was just hoping for the best.”

His even-keeled approach is still evident.

“He’s pretty level with a pretty even demeanor,” Samson said. “He’s got a different perspective on things than a lot of 14-15 year-old kids are going to have.”

Outside of sports, Malsam is involved in Kansas Association for Youth and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

“There’s more stuff to do and there’s more things to choose from (in high school),” Malsam said. “And there’s a variety of other things, even if you don’t do sports. There’s a lot more freedom.”

Malsam said he’s grateful for the support the WaKeeney community provided leading up to his transplant. 

“It was really motivational to see what was all going on in town in helping support the costs of my transplant,” Malsam said. “They did shirt orders and bracelets and then my cousins up in Summerfield, Kansas, they made t-shirts and they got shipped to Kansas City and WaKeeney and other places around our area.”

A golf tournament was also held at the time to help raise funds. 

Samson said he’s eager to see what Malsam will accomplish during his four years in high school.

“I’m just excited to see the kid have the opportunity to be a three-sport high school athlete and be a successful student and see what his future hold,” Samson said. “He’s not being hindered by the cards he was dealt as a young boy.”