Cole is a 12-year old Heart Hero who hails from Papillion, Nebraska! Cole has Truncus Arteriosus with Right Aortic Arch. During the formation of the heart, the aorta and pulmonary artery start out as a great “truncal valve”. Truncus Arteriosus is a defect of the heart in which the aorta and pulmonary do not separate correctly. Cole’s original defect was repaired by open-heart surgery on November 13, 2002. He has had two subsequent open-heart surgeries to replace the conduit that was put into his heart during the first surgery, on October 28, 2003, and July 15, 2010. Cole also underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure on January 9, 2012 to place a stent in the RV-PA (Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery) position.

Cole’s optimism, tenacity, and perseverance have all helped him to overcome his CHD. Tiffany and Shawn, Cole’s parents, have always told him if he can’t go around it, over it, or under it – he has to go through it. Cole exemplifies this and as a result is able to live with his CHD. It’s Cole’s positive disposition and hunger for life and its experiences that enable him to thrive in spite of his CHD.

When Cole was about four years old (and before Heart Heroes was founded!), he asked his mother if she thought he was a superhero. Without a second’s hesitation, she said yes. Cole said he couldn’t be a superhero because he didn’t have a cape- so they found their superhero a cape! The Heart Hero Cape means that a heart child will have this special memento and will never have to question their superhero status.

For Tiffany, having a Heart Hero in her life means many things, and the meaning has evolved as Cole has grown. “Overall, it means my hope beats.” Tiffany was instrumental in bringing pulse oximetry legislation to Nebraska, and her passionate efforts mean that all newborns in Nebraska will be screened for Critical Congenital Heart Defects (CCHDs) before leaving the hospital.

Cole and his family celebrated his original repair anniversary for many years, but now that he’s older, they make a verbal note of the day and focus on the everyday activities of a junior-high boy they celebrate and focus on. He is just able to be Cole, a boy who just happens to have CHD – which is exactly who he wants to be!

Visit Cole’s CaringBridge page: www.caringbridge.org/visit/coleklein