Oklahoma Baby Celebrates His 1st Birthday at Home After Heart Transplant: ‘Life Is a Gift,' Mom Says
Parker Helmerich and his family marked the child's first year of life on Dec. 11, and will soon celebrate their first Christmas together at home
Courtesy of Faith Helmerich
Faith (left and David Helmerich with son ParkerParker Helmerich celebrated his first birthday on Dec. 11 with his family after he had a heart transplant on his 300th day at the hospital
“Being home looks good on him!” mom Faith tells PEOPLE
He was discharged from the hospital in November “just in time to celebrate our first-ever holiday at home with Parker,” she says
An Oklahoma baby is celebrating his first birthday two months after having a life-saving heart transplant.
Parker Helmerich and his family marked the child's first year of life on Dec. 11 with a special drive-by parade, his mom Faith Helmerich tells PEOPLE.
In October, Parker underwent heart surgery to address a condition known as pulmonary stenosis, which went undetected until he was born in 2023.
Now, Parker is home with his parents. His mom says the baby boy’s personality “has come out” since leaving the hospital, and that he is starting to show his “goofy, giggly side.”
“Being home looks good on him!” Faith says about her “easy-going” boy.
Courtesy of Faith Helmerich
Parker HelmerichRelated: Baby Named 'Miracle' Goes Home After 4 Months in NICU as Mom Calls Her 'My Bundle of Joy'
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 to the Mayo Clinic.
Faith said she and her husband “had no idea” their son had a heart defect until he was born.
“Watching your baby be whisked away, after you thought everything was perfect, was heartbreaking,” she recalls. “We had no idea what was wrong with him, and when we found out, we were shocked.”
Courtesy of Faith Helmerich
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.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.
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!”
Courtesy of Faith Helmerich
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.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.
On Dec. 11, Parker celebrated his first birthday with a drive-by parade. Friends and family made signs and brought balloons as they drove by his home.
“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!”
Courtesy of Faith Helmerich
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.Related: Micro-Preemie Was Born Weighing Less Than 2 Lbs. Soon She’ll Be a Nurse at NICU That Saved Her Life
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.”
She also expressed gratitude to the family of the child who donated the heart for baby Parker. “They have just lost their child, and are choosing to let them live on through the gift of organ donation,” she explains. “It is something we will never take for granted.”
Courtesy of Faith Helmerich
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.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."
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