A Manitoba-born father is turning his family’s medical journey into motivation this month, lacing up for the Million Reasons Run in support of children’s hospital research.
Arlo Hutman in his first days of life at the BC Children’s Hospital
Jesse Hutman, originally from the Stonewall area, is committing to run 75 kilometres over 31 days in May while raising $3,000 — a goal deeply rooted in his son Arlo’s fight for life.
“Spending time in the children’s hospital inspired me to give back,” he said. “I’m doing this for Arlo.”
Jesse and his wife Cameo Hutman (née Argan) now live in Canal Flats, B.C., where they settled for the mountains, year-round outdoor recreation and a milder climate, while staying close to family — including Jesse’s brother.
Their son Arlo was born Oct. 22, 2025, at 1:30 a.m., a healthy, nine-pound, nine-ounce baby boy.
Within hours, however, their joy turned to fear.
Later that evening at the Cranbrook hospital, staff noticed something was wrong. What initially appeared to be a faulty blood oxygen monitor quickly became far more serious. Arlo’s oxygen levels were dangerously low, and he was rushed to a small ICU room for further assessment.
Soon after, the family learned he would need to be airlifted to Vancouver.
“It was very stressful waiting for the emergency plane,” Cameo said. “We didn’t even know if one or both of us would be able to go with him.”
In Vancouver, doctors confirmed Arlo had a serious congenital heart condition. His aortic valve had not formed properly and will require multiple replacements as he grows — meaning open-heart surgeries and ongoing care at B.C. Children’s Hospital.
“We were so anxious, not knowing what his life would look like,” she said.
Arlo underwent his first surgery as a newborn, a difficult and overwhelming experience for his parents.
“We felt so helpless. There were so many doctors and nurses coming in and out, doing constant tests leading up to the procedure.”
During recovery, Arlo was connected to multiple monitoring machines and relied on a CPAP machine for several days. His parents were often unable to hold or feed him due to the number of tubes and equipment.
“It was hard to imagine how he could recover so quickly with all the help he needed,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Arlo showed steady progress. After a week in intensive care, he was moved to the ward, and shortly after, the family was able to stay together at Ronald McDonald House before bringing him home just two weeks after his birth.
“That first 48 hours after receiving the news and being transferred to Vancouver were by far the worst,” she said. “It was a storm — riding such a high after having our first child, then suddenly being unsure if or how he was going to survive.”
Now, months later, Jesse is channeling that experience into action through the Million Reasons Run.
Funds raised through the initiative support life-saving research across Canada’s 13 children’s hospitals, where more than 5,000 children receive care every day.
“Supporting children’s hospital research is so important,” he said. “We’ve seen firsthand how much it impacts families like ours.”
Arlo’s journey is ongoing. His next major step will be the Ross Procedure — an open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. For now, the family travels to Vancouver every two months for monitoring, hoping to delay the surgery as long as possible so future replacements can be spaced further apart.
Through it all, the Hutmans say they have gained a deep appreciation for the health-care system and the support of organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Hope Air and Friends of Children.
“It really opens your eyes,” they said. “You realize there are always families going through even more.”
Today, Arlo is thriving. He is a happy, curious baby who loves to smile and laugh. Growing in the 90th percentile, he is currently asymptomatic, though his parents remain watchful for any changes ahead of his next followup appointment in July.
Looking ahead, their hope is simple.
“We just want him to be a regular kid,” they said. “And for his surgeries to go well throughout his life.”
They also have a message for other families facing a similar diagnosis: you are not alone.
“There are strong support communities out there. It makes a difference.”
To support Jesse’s fundraising efforts, donations can be made through the Million Reasons Run millionreasons.run by searching Team Arlo.sons.run by searching Team Arlo.
