Kaden entered the world with a heart that beat fiercely, even though it was missing half of what most hearts have. He had
hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition where the left side of the heart is too small to pump blood to the body. From the very first days of his life, Kaden proved he was a warrior (the meaning of his name).
Surgeons performed the first of several complex surgeries to reroute his blood flow so his right ventricle could do double the work. And even on the hardest days, Kaden kept surprising everyone with his strength. But Kaden didn’t fight alone.
Behind the scenes, a world of research, innovation, and advocacy was helping make his survival possible. The American Heart Association had spent decades funding the very discoveries that shaped how HLHS is treated—safer surgeries, better medications, improved monitoring, and tools to help families understand what to expect. The AHA supported the development of surgical techniques that gave babies like Kaden a fighting chance. They helped train the experts who stood beside him in the operating room and guided the research that helped doctors know exactly how to support his fragile heart.
As Kaden has grown — not just his heart developed, but his love, gratitude, and hope for those around him. Kaden’s story has become a reminder that when science, compassion, and community come together, even the smallest hearts can accomplish extraordinary things.
It's time to unite, take action, and save lives. Every walker who joins, every dollar donated, means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more research and more lifesaving moments for everyone.
I Walk to Save Lives. Help Kaden's Krew reach our goal by joining our team or donating towards our goal. Together, we can turn bystanders into lifesavers.
