Oakley’s Perfect Heart - The Journey of Her Heart Transplant

First and foremost we want to thank each and every one of you who are praying for Oakley! Your prayers have been felt during this extremely difficult time and we cannot thank you enough! God truly has big plans for Oakley Grace!

This has been a long road for the Werley family Kennidi and Braden (mom and dad) and another chapter to their story is just beginning as they prepare Oaks for a heart transplant. Something no parent wishes to hear for their 6 year old, yet extremely grateful for the gift of life as a heart transplant has two stories, one receiving and one giving.

A little about Oakley from the very beginning for those who don’t know…words from my dearest friend and extraordinary mama:

At only 20 weeks pregnant we were told Oakley would need open heart surgery and likely more than one. Oakley is now 6 years old and has gone through two heart surgeries. One at 6 weeks and the other at 2 years old. From various surgeries, to heart caths, doctor appointments, ultrasounds, MRI’s, x-rays and blood work over the years we have learned that it is not an easy journey. However, Oakley has truly changed us…her strength inspires us to be better people every single day.

We have recently been faced with the news that Oakley’s heart can no longer be prepared. She is currently in heart failure and the cardiac surgeons feel surgery would be too risky. With that being said she is now waiting inpatient at Dell Childrens for a heart transplant. We have been told we could potentially live here for 6 months (or longer) waiting on a donor. This news has been extremely difficult for us to process as parents..it all feels so surreal. Without a heart transplant we have been told Oakley would roughly have 2-4 years left with us. It’s so hard to believe this is where we are at with Oakleys journey but with faith, prayers and all the love and support around us I know we will get through life with such grace and I see Jesus through her everyday! I can’t thank you enough for your continued prayers for Oakley and our family during this time. I am forever grateful and I know Oaks is so incredibly loved! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

-Kennidi (Oakley’s mom)

A huge financial stressor will be for this sweet family who will not be able to work while they are admitted for 6+ months at Dell Children’s Hospital. I would love if we could all come together to help take that stress off of them so they can focus solely on Oakley before, during and after her heart transplant. If you are not able to help financially, absolutely no worries! Your prayers mean the absolute world to Kennidi and Braden

Isaiah 41:10 ”Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”