Help Kiara's Family Through Heart Transplant

Police Officer Jason Caley and his wife Kristi have a 25 year old daughter, Kiara, with heart failure, who is on the heart transplant list. They're in need of financial help, as Jason is the only source of income for the family. Kiara began having cardiac issues at the age of 22 and moved back into her parents home, so her mother could take care of her. This is her story, which is heartbreaking for such a young, full of life, young adult.

Kiara, began having cardiac issues at the age of 22, three years ago. After numerous trips to the hospital by ambulance, she was initially diagnosed as having Pericarditis. As this continued to occur, she was taken in for a heart catheterization (heart Cath) in September of 2021. While Kiara was having the heart Cath done, a blockage was discovered in a coronary artery. A stint was placed and as they were backing out, three of her arteries collapsed. Jason and Kristi were taken into the Cath lab to see her prior to her being taken in for a triple bypass surgery, thinking this could be the last time they might get to talk to her.

She survived the bypass surgery, with only a double bypass being able to be completed. Doctors informed Jason and Kristi after the bypass that the best that they could figure is that when she was a child that she had Kawasaki disease. She was later diagnosed with having heart failure. She has had 8 heart Cath's completed, at the age of 25 years old.

On June 7th, 2023, Kiara had to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (heart pump) placed in her. Her heart, prior to the LVAD placement was only pumping at about 10%. On March 11, 2024, Kiara was placed onto the heart transplant list. She was initially listed as status level 4, due to having an LVAD. Along with the LVAD placement, she also had an internal defibrillator implanted in June of 2023. She was also diagnosed as having end stage heart failure. The LVAD requires her to wear a special vest to leave the house, and she has to carry spare batteries. The family has had to make preparations for any power failures to their home, as in having places lined up for Kiara to go, to get her batteries charged in the event of their home loosing power due to storms, car crashes, or blackouts.

On April 19th, 2024 they were contacted by the transplant center that they had a donor heart for her. On April 20th, she was taken into the operating room for the transplant. After waiting in the waiting room for a while, the surgeon came in to speak with family and informed them that there had been an issue with the donor heart, possibly throwing a pulmonary embolism (PE) overnight and the donor heart was now nonviable. The surgeon had made it as far as turning off her internal defibrillator and opening her chest for the transplant. She was closed up and after a brief stay in the hospital for her chest to heal, she was sent home to wait for another donor heart.

Two days after coming home, Kiara suffered what appeared to be a seizure and was again taken to the hospital by ambulance and six hours later she was transferred back to the hospital that has her transplant team, in Indianapolis, IN. It was later determined that her episode was not a seizure, but had the symptoms of a seizure.

On Monday July 22nd, 2024, Kiara was in Fort Wayne, Indiana shopping with a friend and started having chest pains. Pain in both arms and legs, and her jaw was locking up. An ambulance was called where she again was transported to the hospital. After sitting in the emergency room for about six hours, it was determined by her transplant team in Indianapolis that she was going to be flown by helicopter from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis. Doctor's believed it was too dangerous to transport her by ambulance. Another heart Cath (this made about the eighth one now) was done, along with other testing. She was found to have had a heart attack and that her stint is completely blocked. We were further informed that one part of her bypass is narrowing and that she has blood clots. Her transplant listing has now been elevated to status 2 and she can’t leave the hospital until she has a transplant completed.

Kiara eats a high protein, low carb and no sugar diet in which is extremely limited at the hospital and family is providing all of her food to her due to this. Kristi has been Kiara’s caretaker and is remaining at the hospital with Kiara, as any caring mother would do.

The family has been financially drained, using available credit and a home equity line of credit, to support the needs of the family during these multiple surgeries, hospital stays and traveling to and from the hospital. They had just began repaying their credit card debt., when Kiara was flown to Indianapolis. Jason returned home to work, as his income is the only source of income the family has.

Any help given is greatly appreciated by the family.

Donations can also given at Bippus State Bank, under the “Kiara Fund”! Cards and letters are welcome, PO Box 257, Warren, IN 46792.