The Caden Dudt Memorial Fund

About Caden

Caden Andrew Dudt of Englishtown, New Jersey was born on September 8, 2005 with multiple heart defects and earned his angel wings on January 29, 2006. Caden’s parents, Philip and Carol, would like to share Caden’s story with everyone and bring awareness to the #1 birth defect in the United States and #1 cause of birth defect related deaths during the first year of an infant’s life.

Caden was diagnosed in utero with Heterotaxy syndrome, hypoplastic left ventricle, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, double outlet right ventricle, unbalanced AV canal, and pulmonary stenosis. The cardiologists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) thought that once Caden was born, he would need his first open-heart surgery. Miraculously, when Caden was born, the multiple heart defects were working in conjunction with one another to make his heart function well on its own so Caden did not need open-heart surgery immediately after birth as expected. Caden was due to undergo his first open-heart surgery on February 14, 2006, Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Day. Sadly, Caden did not make it to that day and passed away on January 29, 2006. Read the full story.

Basketball Tournament

In his memory, Caden’s parents would like to bring awareness to Congenital Heart Defects and raise money for research by holding an annual children’s invitational basketball tournament in Caden’s name.

The third annual Caden Dudt Memorial Basketball Tournament hosted by the Jersey Shore Athletic Group, Inc. (JSAG) will take place on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at Toms River High School North in Ocean County, New Jersey with a luncheon during the basketball tournament.

To Donate to The Caden Dudt Memorial Fund

Donations to The Children’s Heart Foundation can be made in Caden’s honor and memory by calling Bill Foley at The Children’s Heart Foundation at 847/634-6474 or by going to this page. Please be sure to include The Caden Dudt Memorial Fund when making the donation.

For more information on Caden, visit his website at www.hearts-of-hope.com/caden.