HOUSTON — Kaydan Fisher was born with a complex congenital heart defect and her parents couldn't even hold her for the first six weeks of her life.
“It was an agony that no parent should bear," Demetric Fisher said in an interview with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Kaydan had three major heart surgeries at a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi before the age of 2.
“The doctors and nurses did everything they could to explain what was going on, but we were in shock, and it was all so complicated. We were worried that nothing would work," Demetric said.
Thankfully, the surgeries were successful. But doctors told Demetric and her husband, Cedric, that Kaydan might eventually need a heart and liver transplant.
One of her surgeons was Dr. Avichal Aggarwal. Kayden was 6 when she left Mississippi for Children’s Memorial Hermann in Houston. Aggarwal gave Demetric his personal cell phone number and told her he'd always be there for the family.
When Kaydan turned 10, Demetric reached out to Aggarwal.
“We hadn’t talked in many years, but something told me to send him a text message to celebrate her milestone,” she said.
Demetric followed her heart and sent the text, never dreaming it would lead to an answer to their prayers.
Aggarwal responded right away. He told Demetric about the innovative Biventricular Repair Program being pioneered at the Children’s Heart Institute at Children’s Memorial Hermann that would alter Kaydan's life trajectory.
When Kaydan was a baby, her other surgeon was Dr. Jorge Salazar, now at Children's Memorial Hermann. He described the biventricular repair program as groundbreaking with only a few global centers equipped to perform it.
"For children like Kaydan who underwent multiple early surgeries, we're essentially transforming their heart to function normally, enhancing their long-term survival chance," Salazar explained. "Unlike traditional transplants lasting 10 to 15 years, biventricular repair aims for a heart's lifelong endurance.”
The Fishers trusted both doctors and decided to head to Houston for the surgery.
“Even Kaydan was on board,” Demetric said. “She said she prayed on it and felt that the surgery was safe, so she wanted to proceed, too. She even got excited and asked if she could call the hospital herself to schedule the appointment.”
Kayden had the 10-hour procedure in February 2023. Two weeks later, she headed home to Mississippi with her parents and a normally functioning heart.
Kayden is now a happy, healthy 11-year-old who feels better than ever. The family celebrated her birthday at an amusement park.
“I got to ride the big rides. I love my heart!” Kaydan said.
