The Effingham Hearts Have a Message for "Coach Kyal" Hoelscher

If you've been to a JFL or Effingham Hearts football game, you've no doubt seen Kyal Hoelscher, better known as "Coach Kyal". If there's football practice or a game happening, you'll likely find him cheering, motivating and helping out. With his trademark sunglasses, twirling whistle and larger than life presence, Coach Kyal is beloved by both the Hearts and JFL families.

This past Thursday, we got word that Kyal's health wasn't good. A shunt that had been installed to help treat his Hydrocephalus had failed, and he was on a ventilator at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. We posted the following Friday evening while the Hearts were playing in Mt. Zion.

Monday morning, we learned that Kyal had been taken off the ventilator. His mother told us via Facebook that, "He is doing ok so far, getting ready to go for a CT scan." There's no word yet on when Kyal will be able to come home, but once he's cleared to leave the hospital, a parade is planned to welcome him home. Details and updates on the parade can be found here.