Eight-Year-Old Receives Miracle Heart Transplant After Year in Hospital

A Year of Waiting for a Miracle

Kennidi Werley, a 31-year-old mom, first learned that her daughter Oakley would need a heart transplant in November 2023 when she was 6 years old after bringing her to the doctor for the Fontan procedure, an operation for children who are born with one working heart ventricle. She and her husband Braden Werley, 31, originally thought their daughter would be having her last palliative surgery for a while, but after three hours in the waiting room, they received the unexpected news.

Oakley was officially listed as an outpatient in January 2024 before ultimately becoming too sick to wait outside of the hospital. In February 2024, she was admitted into the hospital so she could be closely monitored while she waited for a potential donor. She says watching her daughter connected to an IV pole for a year was hard, but she adds seeing Oakley's strength during that time made it a little easier.

"Waiting was so extremely hard. We knew time was not on our side and this was completely out of anyone's control. Every day we just prayed, 'Please Lord, please give Oakley her miracle,'" says Kennidi, who's also a mom to son Kash, 5, and twins Lennon and Legend, 7 weeks. On February 16, 2025 it was exactly 365 days inpatient when we finally got the call that they had accepted a heart for Oakley. After an entire year spent in the hospital, praying every single day for this phone call, she was finally getting her miracle.

The Life-Changing Call

Kennidi says the news came with "so many emotions," since she recognized that one of her family's happiest moments was one of another family's darkest days. Above all, the doting mom says she's grateful that they said yes to an organ transplant, which ultimately saved her daughter's life. "Words will never be enough to express our gratitude," she shares.

Kennidi noticed the effects of the surgery almost right away, saying that after a 13-hour surgery, her daughter was "glowing." "Her once blue lips and purple fingers were now a beautiful pink!" she explains. "Every day she got stronger and stronger. It was truly a miracle to witness."

After 385 days inpatient Oakley finally went home. Her once blue lips are now a beautiful pink. She can now run and play with her Little brother… I am just enjoying every moment soaking it all in.

A New Life and Lasting Impact

Now, at 8 years old, Kennidi says Oakley is "thriving." The mom of four shares that her daughter is involved in gymnastics and dance, and enjoys spending time with her siblings. "She has so much energy and wants to do all the things this life has to offer," she shares.

A year after Oakley's life-changing heart transplant, Kennidi is still using her social media platform to spread awareness about the importance of organ donors. In a now-viral video, she candidly shared her daughter's experience, showing gratitude to her daughter's "little hero." For anyone who sees any of her videos, Kennidi hopes it encourages them to "never take the little moments for granted." "Those are the big moments. The ones we will one day miss dearly and the ones our family prayed so hard to get back," Kennidi says.

I've learned the little moments are the big moments and I never want to take that for granted again. The family's journey serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact organ donation can have, transforming tragedy into hope and giving families like the Werleys the chance to witness their own miracle unfold.