SWANTON, Ohio — A local toy drive for children with congenital heart defects is heading into its fifth year, spearheaded by a local teen who underwent heart surgery only six months ago.
Caden Laney, an eighth grader from Swanton, was born with a biscuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart defect that restricts blood flow exiting his heart. As a result, Caden spent much of his childhood in the hospital for his congenital heart disease, and had an open-heart surgery in 2015.
Despite the difficulties he has faced and continues to face, his family members said Caden remains positive; in 2019, he decided he wanted to give back to an area healthcare facility and support other children with congenital heart disease by donating his Christmas gifts, thus sparking an annual toy drive.
Five years later, Caden's toy drive continues, having lasted half a decade and just six months after another surgery to completely replace his pulmonary valve.
"I want to be someone who cares about people," Caden said in a press release regarding the toy drive. "It's important to me to give back to area hospitals because [children born with congenital heart disease] are stuck in the hospital fighting the same battle I'm fighting. I know what that feels like and how overwhelming it can be when everything is going on and you don't understand it."
Since 2019, Caden has collected 8,000 toys for children.
The toy drive, known as "Toys for Tiny Heroes", operates with the help of Caden's mother, Tanya. It will benefit children at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children's Hospital and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
The drive will begin collecting toys Saturday, Oct. 21 and last through Dec. 13. Toys can be dropped off at the following locations:
Delta Candy Emporium
207 Main St.
Delta, Ohio
Dermatology Associates
12780 Roachton Rd.
Perrysburg, Ohio
&
3141 Central Park West
Toledo, Ohio
Main Street Trading Post Co.
113. South Main St.
Swanton, Ohio
The Manor at Perrysburg
250 Manor Dr.
St. Richard Catholic School
333 Brookside Dr.
Swanton, Ohio
To host a "hero box", contact Tanya Laney at tanya@toysfortinyheroes.com. To see a list of toys you can purchase directly off of Amazon, click here.
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Editor's note: A previous version of this story inaccurately stated that Conquering CHD is involved with the toy drive this year. The current story has been updated to reflect the correction.