Beckett Genuardi loves music.
When he’s not learning to play the piano, Beckett is often singing with his father, Joe. Many of their songs can be heard on PartyHearty, the Genuardis’ YouTube channel. Their audience has grown to more than 2,300 subscribers.
But music is more than just an activity for the 7-year-old.
“It’s always around him,” said Taylor Genuardi, Beckett’s mother. “It just makes me so happy because I think music is so important.”
Music follows Beckett everywhere, including when he’s in the waiting room for his regularly scheduled cardiology check-ups.
At 2 months old, Beckett was placed on the Berlin Heart®, an artificial heart device made specifically for babies facing heart failure. Ten days later, he received a heart transplant.
Today, Beckett is the star of his story. With help from his parents, he meticulously manages his medicine and takes extra precautions to stay healthy during COVID-19. For the past two years, Beckett has seen a cardiologist every three months. He also receives intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions every three months, which helps his donor-specific antibodies.
“He really knows everything, like the medicines he’s on,” Taylor said. “He knows this is his life.”
Taylor says her son’s talents could lead him down various career paths. While music is his passion, Beckett’s experiences at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital have inspired him. He said he wants to be a heart doctor. After infusions, Beckett tries his hand at being a doctor as Taylor’s kitchen counter turns into an operating room.
Beckett also loves technology. He is often on the computer or his iPad, setting up Google Classroom sessions to teach his family the lessons he learned at school.
And, of course, there is PartyHearty. When the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Beckett’s father needed an avenue to channel his creativity. Just like that, PartyHearty was born.
“They started to do a video every morning,” Taylor said. “They have gotten so many opportunities from it.”
Joe and Beckett have taken their father-son duo to sporting events for the national anthem and special events, such as the UF Health Congenital Heart Center’s 15th anniversary celebration. Taylor says they are even writing original songs for a CD.
Beckett’s shining smile and energetic character are bound to make a difference in others’ lives. Only time will tell whether that impact will be in music or medicine.