The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

The beginning of September 2018, 3-year-old Kaden woke up with a runny nose, itchy eyes and cough. He was treated for his symptoms by his primary physician. 3 weeks later he continued to have a dry cough, he was taken back to the doctor and was given a new asthma pump that would aid with the constant coughing.
On the night of October 1st, Kaden began to have a constant cough and he started throwing up. His chest began to contract fast and with great concern I took him to the TMH Pediatric E.R. (Thomasville Rd.) during his examination from the E.R. doctor, he asked if Kaden had any symptoms of discoloration or complaints about body parts hurting. I stated, “No, Kaden has been your typical 3-year-old running, jumping, playing with his big brother.” The doctor stated that he would like to take an x-ray of his chest and in the meantime, he will start a new breathing treatment to relieve the cough. Later, the doctor entered the room and pulled up the x-ray. He stated that Kaden’s heart is unusually large for his age and Kaden needed to be transferred to the TMH Pediatric ICU for more testing. From there we were rushed to the main hospital by ambulance more x-rays and breathing treatments were done. It was stated that Kaden was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy a heart disease of the heart that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body, which could potentially lead to heart failure. Due to the severity of his condition he would have to be life flighted to UF Shands Cardio Pediatrics ICU in Gainesville, Florida for treatment. All of this happened within 15 hours.
By 2:00pm on October 2, 2018, Kaden arrived at UF Health Shands Hospital and was placed in the Pediatric Cardiology ICU and was started on numerous IV’s to help his heart rate. After more test the Cardiology team came in to speak with the family. We were told that Kaden’s heart was functioning at less than 5% and his left lung was compacted due to his left ventricle (enlarged) pressing on that organ. The first night at the hospital was very alarming he went into Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) mode it is when you have an abnormally fast heartbeat (above 100) this happened twice during the night. Medication was given to get his heart rate back down. The doctors stated in the condition his heart was in, he could not bear a chance to go through SVT mode again his heart was not in good condition. On October 4, 2018 it was decided that Kaden will have surgery and will be given a Berlin heart chamber to relieve the pressure off his heart. He was then placed on the Organ Transplant list and the search for a new heart began.
As of April 2, 2019 Kaden, and his mom have been at UF Health Shands Hospital Cardio Pediatrics ICU for a total of 6 months still waiting for his new heart. Kaden has made tremendous progress and his lung has opened back up. He is your typical 3-year-old; playing, walking and enjoying the staff at UF Health Shands Hospital Cardio Pediatrics ICU unit.