Oklahoma Baby Celebrates His 1st Birthday at Home After Heart Transplant: ‘Life Is a Gift,' Mom Says

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-r) David and Faith Helmerich with son Parker.Photo:Chloe Reed Photography

Chloe Reed Photography

In October, Parker underwent heart surgery to address a condition known as pulmonary stenosis, which went undetected until he was born in 2023.

Faith (left and David Helmerich with son Parker.Courtesy of Faith Helmerich

Courtesy of Faith Helmerich

“Being home looks good on him!” Faith says about her “easy-going” son.

Parker Helmerich.Courtesy of Faith Helmerich

Faith and her husband David, both 33, initially believed Parker was “perfectly healthy” when he was born in Tulsa in 2023. But soon after, Faith said they learned he was “very sick.”

“Thirty minutes after he was born, hospital staff noticed his coloring and work of breathing,” Faith explains. He was later diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis.

Pulmonary stenosis is a narrowing of the pulmonary valve, preventing proper blood flow to the heart and lungs, according tothe Mayo Clinic.

Parker Helmerich, spent nearly his entire first year of life hospitalized was able to celebrate his first birthday at home after undergoing a complex heart transplant. Parents Faith and David Helmerich.Courtesy of Faith Helmerich

Faith said she and her husband “had no idea” their son had a heart defect until he was born.

Parker was eventually airlifted to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, where he spent several months in the intensive care unit. He experienced “a stroke, seizures, abdominal surgery, and several other cath procedures on his heart,” according to his mom.

In March, doctors determined a heart transplant was Parker’s “best option” for survival. He spent 198 days waiting on the hair transplant list.

Parents David and Faith Helmerich with son Parker.Chloe Reed Photography

On his 300th day in the hospital, Faith says her son finally received a heart. It was the first pediatric heart transplant at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in 30 years.

“As he was wheeled down, we felt at peace,” Faith tells PEOPLE. “We trusted the doctors and staff, and knew he was in the best hands.”

She later adds, “When we found out that Parker’s heart was beating, it was the happiest moment of our lives!”

Parker and his donor heart are now “doing amazing” and “functioning beautifully,” according to Faith. “He is really starting to act like a normal 1-year-old,” she adds, “and we could not be more thankful!”

Parker was discharged from the hospital on Nov. 22 “just in time to celebrate our first-ever holiday at home with Parker,” Faith says.

“It was so much fun to see faces we hadn’t seen in over a year,” Faith tells PEOPLE, later adding, “It was a surreal moment!”

Faith lauded the efforts of Dr. Erik Edens, whose team performed the heart surgery, and others at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital who helped their son survive.

“They truly felt like family to us,” she explains. “They are who we celebrated holidays with. They are who saw Parker’s first milestones. They are forever ingrained in our memory for the positive impact they had on our journey and lives.”

Parker Helmerich.Chloe Reed Photography

Now, Faith says she and David “are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with him, like we thought we would be last year.”

“If we’ve learned anything through this experience it is to enjoy every little moment,” she tells PEOPLE. “Health is such a blessing. Life is a gift."

source: people.com