Kaden was born three years ago with Transposition of the Great Arteries, or TGA. On his third day of life, Kaden needed open-heart surgery to repair the defect, with a procedure called an arterial switch. This surgery, which has been around for one generation switches the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Before this procedure was developed, the surgeries to fix this type of defect were not as advanced and patients developed many problems including a shortened lifespan or the need for a heart transplant.

Click here to see Kaden’s video.

Kaden’s parents are sharing his story on behalf of the American Heart Association for this year’s Tampa Bay Heart Walk. Local residents can read about Kaden’s personal heart story through posters displayed at area Subways. Subway customers are then able to make a donation and purchase a red heart.

Mollie, Kaden’s mom, describes him as full of life and love. “Kaden wakes up every day excited to start exploring his world,” she said. Today, Kaden lives a very normal life. He goes to school, likes to dance and plays with cars. The most wonderful news — Kaden is not expected to need any additional heart surgeries.