Country singer Rory Feek revealed that his 12-year-old daughter, Indiana, will undergo open heart surgery Wednesday morning in Austin, Texas.
Her procedure will treat a ventricular septal defect, a small hole in her heart that has been present since birth, according to a statement shared on Feek’s substack. Feek told fans that around half of babies born with Down syndrome have heart issues. Some time after Indiana’s birth, medical staff told them there was hope that the hole in her heart would close on its own over time.
Unfortunately, that was not the case for his daughter, according to Feek’s post.
“I don’t want the surgery Papa,” Indiana said to her famous father through tears.
He told fans he held his little girl as she said, “I want the miracle,” and cried.
“We have been, and are continuing to pray for her miracle,” Feek wrote.
“We’ve always known that open heart surgery was a possibility. But this last appointment in January confirmed that it was something that was going to be needed to be done, sooner than later,” Feek wrote in his statement.
He continued, “To look at her, Indiana is as healthy and happy as can be. She often gets winded when she’s running and playing with other kids and doesn’t have the stamina many children her age have, but overall her health has always been pretty much perfect, with no outward physical signs of concern.”
Feek told fans that Indiana’s cardiologist confirmed that her current condition is not currently life threatening, but that it could affect her quality of life as well as her life span if it isn’t fixed.
“And so here we are,” he said. “Getting ready for a difficult next few weeks and months for Indiana. It’s not where we’d like to be, but we’re truly thankful to be here surrounded not only by a competent surgical team and medical center, but lots of dear friends and family who love and are praying for her.”
He noted that “The hardest part so far has been helping Indy get emotionally ready for what’s coming. Preparing her for something that’s going to be very hard on her. Hard on all of us, especially her Papa, to see her go through so much difficulty and pain.”
“But I also know that when it’s done, it’s going to make her life better.”
LAS VEGAS – APRIL 17: Recording artist Rory Feek of the duo Joey + Rory performs during the Academy of Country Music all-star concert at the Fremont Street Experience April 17, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The famous singer visited two children’s hospitals before deciding to proceed with surgery at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, according to his post.
Indiana will spend approximately 10 days in hospital, and will recover at home for six to eight weeks after the procedure.
Feek has surrounded his daughter with the love of family and friends and has spent some time taking her on fun adventures as the family braces for the tough weeks ahead.
“This last couple of weeks and days has also been a time of much prayer for our family. Indy knows well that God can do miracles and so that’s what she has been praying for. We’ve all been praying,” Feek wrote in his statement. (RELATED: Rod Stewart Deeply Inhaled From Oxygen Tank Amid Onstage Health Scare)
“On Sunday morning in church, the whole congregation of more than a thousand prayed for her.”
“The surgery is schedule for this Wednesday morning at 6 am. They said that Indy should be in the operating room for 6 to 7 hours, and then in Intensive Care for about a week,” he said.
“’Lord, bless Indy’s sweet, precious heart…and be with her in these difficult days to come.’”
Feek is a country singer and songwriter, and won a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2017.