KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and SportsLove is more than just a score

Love is more than just a score

Karl is a tennis pro at the Rochester Athletic Club, while Kady the Century girl's coach.

In March the tennis couple welcomed twins Grace and Bethany.

Four months later, doctors heard a murmur in Bethany's heart.

"We found out that she had a mitral inefficiency which means her mitrial valve hasn't grown to it's completion," says Karl Monson.

Doctors suggested surgery to replace the valve with a mechanical one when Bethany was a little older.

"And then at her next routine appointment they did an echocardiogram and they found the coronary artery to be originating from the pulmonary artery which is incorrect."

Which means, the blood was flowing the wrong way through Bethany's heart.

Surgery just couldn't wait.

In early September, six-month-old Bethany had open heart surgery to repair both defects.

Today, Bethany is doing fine.

"We know that she's a blessing everyday, however many days we're able to have her here on earth," says Kady. "She's been such a blessing to other people and really changed some lives already. So we know that there's a purpose for her. That's why we're so joyful even times of this trial right now."

The Monson's are taking the game of life one step at a time. While proving that while love means zero in tennis, the Monson's love for their children is infinite.

"We can only control what we can control. Everyday is filled with a lot of prayers and we just go one day at a time, sometimes one hour," says Karl.

To help the Monson's with mounting medical bills, the Rochester Athletic Club is hosting a benefit Saturday, November 7th beginning at 5:30 p.m.

It's free and open to the public.

There will be a social hour, tennis mixer and silent auction.

Bethany also has a caring bridge website.

The Monson's say the seven-month old will have to have another heart surgery to put in a mechanical valve.