NEED TO KNOW

• Kennidi Werley, a mother from Texas, is inspiring countless people by sharing her daughter’s journey.

• Her daughter, Oakley, underwent a life-saving heart transplant after spending a year hospitalized.

• At 8, Kennidi reports that Oakley is “thriving,” using her story to remind others to appreciate the small moments.

A Texas mom named Kennidi Werley is making an impact on many by narrating her daughter’s story. At 31, she faced a shocking revelation about her daughter Oakley needing a heart transplant in November 2023. This came after taking Oakley, then 6, for the Fontan procedure, a necessary surgery for kids with a single functioning heart ventricle. Initially, they believed it would be Oakley’s last palliative surgery for a while. However, three hours in the waiting area brought unexpected news.

“Her surgeon informed us that her heart was too complicated for another palliative surgery, and that the outcome wouldn’t be good,” she recounts. “It was a journey we never imagined. They informed us that without a transplant, Oakley had about two years left.”

By January 2024, Oakley was listed as an outpatient, but soon became too ill to remain outside the hospital. In February, she was admitted for close monitoring while awaiting a donor.

The waiting period was “incredibly tough,” Kennidi recalls, as time was not on their side. Observing Oakley connected to an IV for a year was challenging, yet her daughter’s resilience made some moments easier. “She was a true ‘bright light’ during that waiting period,” Kennidi mentions.

“The waiting was so hard. We kept praying for her miracle,” says Kennidi, who also has a son, Kash, and twins, Lennon and Legend. “Oakley’s sheer joy and love for others helped lighten our load, even in such tough times.”

A year after being hospitalized, the family received the call regarding a donor match. The emotions were complex, as Kennidi realized that their joy came during another family’s darkest moment. Above all, she expresses gratitude for the life-saving transplant.

“Words can’t truly capture our appreciation,” she says.

Kennidi noticed immediate changes post-surgery, explaining that following a 13-hour operation, Oakley’s transformation was evident.

“Her lips, once blue, were now a lovely pink!” she explains, noting Oakley grew stronger day by day. “Witnessing it felt miraculous.”

Now 8, Oakley is “thriving,” as Kennidi puts it. She’s active in gymnastics and dance, and loves playing with her siblings.

“She has so much energy and wants to experience everything life has to offer,” Kennidi shares. “It’s a life we never envisioned for her. Truly a precious gift.”

A year following Oakley’s heart transplant, Kennidi continues to use her social media presence to promote organ donation awareness. A viral video highlights Oakley’s journey, thanking her “little hero.” In her post, she reflects, “One year ago, we couldn’t have guessed what the future held. This life for Oakley was unimaginable. Thanks to that one ‘yes,’ her little hero’s legacy continues beautifully.”

Through her platform, Kennidi aims to encourage others to treasure the small, everyday moments. “Those moments are the significant ones we’ll long for later, the ones our family worked so hard to reclaim,” she states. “We had to leave home for 16 months during Oakley’s wait and recovery. Now, we’re just so thankful to be home together.”