- Parker Helmerich celebrated his first birthday on Dec. 11 together with his household after he had a coronary heart transplant on his three hundredth day on the hospital
- “Being house appears to be like good on him!” mother Religion tells PEOPLE
- He was discharged from the hospital in November “simply in time to rejoice our first-ever vacation at house with Parker,” she says
An Oklahoma child is celebrating his first birthday two months after having a life-saving coronary heart transplant.
Parker Helmerich and his household marked the kid’s first 12 months of life on Dec. 11 with a particular drive-by parade, his mother Religion Helmerich tells PEOPLE.
In October, Parker underwent coronary heart surgical procedure to deal with a situation referred to as pulmonary stenosis, which went undetected till he was born in 2023.
Now, Parker is house together with his dad and mom. His mother says the newborn boy’s persona “has come out” since leaving the hospital, and that he’s beginning to present his “goofy, giggly aspect.”
“Being house appears to be like good on him!” Religion says about her “easy-going” boy.
Courtesy of Religion Helmerich
Religion and her husband David, each 33, initially believed Parker was “completely wholesome” when he was born in Tulsa in 2023. However quickly after, Religion mentioned they realized he was “very sick.”
“Thirty minutes after he was born, hospital workers seen his coloring and work of respiration,” Religion explains. He was later recognized with pulmonary stenosis.
Pulmonary stenosis is a narrowing of the pulmonary valve, stopping correct blood movement to the center and lungs, in line with the Mayo Clinic.
Religion mentioned she and her husband “had no concept” their son had a coronary heart defect till he was born.
“Watching your child be whisked away, after you thought every part was excellent, was heartbreaking,” she recollects. “We had no concept what was improper with him, and after we discovered, we have been shocked.”
Courtesy of Religion Helmerich
Parker was finally airlifted to Oklahoma Kids’s Hospital, the place he spent a number of months within the intensive care unit. He skilled “a stroke, seizures, stomach surgical procedure, and several other different cath procedures on his coronary heart,” in line with his mother.
In March, docs decided a coronary heart transplant was Parker’s “best choice” for survival. He spent 198 days ready on the hair transplant checklist.
On his three hundredth day within the hospital, Religion says her son lastly acquired a coronary heart. It was the primary pediatric coronary heart transplant at Oklahoma Kids’s Hospital in 30 years.
“As he was wheeled down, we felt at peace,” Religion tells PEOPLE. “We trusted the docs and workers, and knew he was in one of the best fingers.”
She later provides, “Once we discovered that Parker’s coronary heart was beating, it was the happiest second of our lives!”
Courtesy of Religion Helmerich
Parker and his donor coronary heart at the moment are “doing wonderful” and “functioning fantastically,” in line with Religion. “He’s actually beginning to act like a traditional 1-year-old,” she provides, “and we couldn’t be extra grateful!”
Parker was discharged from the hospital on Nov. 22 “simply in time to rejoice our first-ever vacation at house with Parker,” Religion says.
On Dec. 11, Parker celebrated his first birthday with a drive-by parade. Family and friends made indicators and introduced balloons as they drove by his house.
“It was a lot enjoyable to see faces we hadn’t seen in over a 12 months,” Religion tells PEOPLE, later including, “It was a surreal second!”
Courtesy of Religion Helmerich
Religion lauded the efforts of Dr. Erik Edens, whose staff carried out the center surgical procedure, and others at Oklahoma Kids’s Hospital who helped their son survive.
“They honestly felt like household to us,” she explains. “They’re who we celebrated holidays with. They’re who noticed Parker’s first milestones. They’re endlessly ingrained in our reminiscence for the constructive affect they’d on our journey and lives.”
She additionally expressed gratitude to the household of the kid who donated the center for child Parker. “They’ve simply misplaced their youngster, and are selecting to allow them to reside on via the present of organ donation,” she explains. “It’s one thing we are going to by no means take without any consideration.”
Courtesy of Religion Helmerich
Now, Religion says she and David “are trying ahead to celebrating Christmas with him, like we thought we might be final 12 months.”
“If we have realized something via this expertise it’s to take pleasure in each little second,” she tells PEOPLE. “Well being is such a blessing. Life is a present.”
