PORT ANGELES – Caydence Jade Barnett, hospitalized for the first four months of her life, spent her first Thanksgiving at home with her family on Thursday.
The 9-month-old child, who has gone through five operations, faces another one before Christmas, said her mother, Tiffany Barnett of Port Angeles.
The reason? Caydence is growing so well that she has outgrown a conduit that replaced an artery in her heart.
Born prematurely weighing 2 pounds 9 ounces on Feb. 21, the baby now weighs almost 12 pounds.
Caydence is Tiffany and Chris Barnett’s first child.
She was born at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle with a chromosome abnormality called Turner Syndrome, which caused defects in her heart and which is expected to stunt her growth.
“She’s just a little trooper -all smiles through everything she’s been through,” Chris said. “She is just a miracle.
“She has started to say some words like dada and mama.
“Every day when I come home and get to see her it is an awesome feeling.”
When she arrived home, donations of items, money and help poured in.
“We are so thankful to the community for all of their help, for all they’ve done,” Tiffany said.
Just two days before Thanksgiving, Chris and Tiffany heard from doctors that Caydence will need another surgery.
“We need prayers just as much as before,” Tiffany said.
During the surgery, doctors also will investigate the tube in the baby’s stomach that now feeds her, because lately she has not been taking food as well as she had been, said her mother.
Caydence still won’t take a bottle after being home for five months, but she has begun to eat some baby food.
Turner Syndrome is caused by the complete or partial absence of one of the two X chromosomes normally found in women.
It is among the most common chromosomal abnormalities, and is considered to be a random accident, with no known cause.
Those born with Turner Syndrome tend to be short, but intelligence and life span are not affected, according to information on the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States Web site, www.turner-syndrome-us.org.
Those who want to help with expenses can send donations to the Caydence Barnett Family Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 901 E Front St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
