Kayden T.
Illinois
Birth Date - January 29, 2009
Diagnosis - Dilated Cardiomyopathy
THEME: PINK and RED HEARTS
Quilt Deadline: 5/1/16
Kayden's Story
On February 5, 2015 Kayden was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Within days after arriving at Lurie Children's hospital in Chicago Kayden was listed 1A on the heart transplant list and underwent a surgery to have an LVAD placed. The LVAD is a device that would do the work of the left ventricle of her heart.
She had many struggles while waiting for a new heart. Although the LVAD kept her alive and did all the work for her, it also caused 3 strokes. She recovered very well from the first 2 and they were both challenging and scary for her. The third stroke happened weeks before her transplant and was the most damaging. We are told with time she will recover and we are still waiting for her recovery.
We got word on her brother's fifth birthday that Kayden would soon receive a heart. That was at the end of June. She had waited 140 days for that heart. Although her heart is healthy now and her body is healing, she is unable to speak and has low motor movement caused by the strokes. We know in time she will heal and we look forward to that day. She has been through so much already and has maintained a smile on her face through it all.
"Thank You"
"Sorry it took me a while to get this to you. I really wanted a picture of her sitting up but she's had a cold these past few weeks and it's easier for her to breath when she is lying flat. She absolutely loves the quilt. Thank you very much."
