Welcome to Team Camden Strong!
Cam is the strongest little boy we know. He is currently 9 years old and was born in Minneapolis, MN, with multiple congenital heart defects: coarctation of the aorta and two VSDs. Camden had his first open heart surgery when he was just 6 days old. Due to complications he spent over 7 weeks in the hospital before going home for the first time to Brookings, SD. Before he was two years old, Camden had undergone 4 open heart surgeries, 3 heart catheterizations, pacemaker surgery, feeding tube placement surgery, diaphragm surgery and numerous others totaling 13 surgeries before age 2.
Over the next six years Camden underwent another 7 surgeries including 2 open heart surgeries and a heart catheterization. During this time, in 2022, he unfortunately suffered a blood clot, stroke and brain bleed. After his last open heart surgery his heart function had not improved and it was determined he would need a heart transplant. He was deemed too risky and needed a higher level of care and was referred to Chicago, IL.
Cam was brought to Chicago in January 2023 for his transplant evaluation and was inpatient and listed February 16, 2023. He was placed on an LVAD in March to bridge to transplant and received his transplant May 4 2023. He had many complications and was on ECMO for 4 days and did dialysis due to kidney failure until August. Cam was discharged home Oct 20 after 246 days.
He has currently undergone 14 heart catheterizations, 9 open heart surgeries, and numerous other surgeries totaling 41. He has a heart transplant. He is a stroke survivor and he is a heart survivor. He's a warrior.
That's just our story. There are so many others like Camden. We knew nothing about heart defects when Camden was born. Please join our team to walk together to show support for everyone with heart disease and heart defects. If you aren't able to join us, please consider donating to help fund research for this amazing cause.
#CAMDENSTRONG
