Caden Yohanek

We found out Caden had a heart defect when I was 20 weeks pregnant. We were sent up to St. Vincent's specialty clinic. There they told us that we would have to go to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee because they are well equipped for this complex heart defect. At Children's hospital Dr. Michelle Frommelt diagnosed Caden with Tricuspid Artesia with Transposition of the greater arteries, VSD, ASD. Which all of this means Caden is missing his right ventricle in his heart and his Aorta and Pulmonary Artery are switched around.

They told us two things could happen when Caden was born either he would need a heart surgery or he would be fine for a few months and then need his first one. They also had told us he probably would need two to three heart surgeries.

Caden was born September 21st of 2005 weighing 5lb 9oz. He was 3 weeks early. When he was born his heart was doing OK. He spent 9 days in Children's Hospital due to jaundice. When Caden was 4 months old Caden underwent his 1st heart surgery. He was in surgery about 4 hours and then he came out with tubes everywhere. He was out of the hospital in 7 days. After about month being home he started breathing heavy and did not want to drink his bottles. He was again admitted to Children's, this time he had fluid in his lungs. He spent 6 weeks at the hospital because they could not stop the fluid from coming in.

Caden also was diagnosed with a two hemi-vertebrae in his back. This means he has two vertebra that are triangles instead of squares causes him to grow leaning to the right. May 15, 2007 Caden had a back surgery to stop the growth on the left side of the neck, hoping that the right side would catch up and he would grow straighter. After the surgery Caden was in a Milwaukee brace from this waist to his neck to keep his head straight. At the beginning of April this year we got to take it off. He was so happy to get it off.

Caden is 2 1/2 now and he is just like every other two year old other than having all the medical problems. He loves to climb, jump and to get into everything. Caden does receive occupational and physical therapy. He will need another open heart surgery when he is 3 or 4 and possibly future surgeries to correct his back. We go to Children's Hospital every six months for check-ups for his heart and neck.

We are very thankful for all Children's Hosptial has done for Caden, they do wonders!!

The Yohanek Family ~
Charles, Julie, Cole and Caden