6 days ago
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Rory Feek has revealed his daughter, Indiana, 12, is recovering after surgery to repair a congenital heart defect.
Indiana, who has Down syndrome, was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD), a small hole in her heart. She was diagnosed with the condition shortly after her birth in 2014.
In an emotional update posted on his This Life I Live Substack, the country singer, 61, shared Indiana 'should live a full, long life' following the delicate procedure.
He described the moment he and his wife, Rebecca, Indiana’s stepmom, walked into the ICU room where Indiana was recuperating.
'Indiana heard our voice, her tears that began falling caused a chain reaction from her Mama and me,' wrote Feek, who has been involved in an ongoing feud with his daughter Hopie, 38, with ex-wife Tamara Gilmer.
'Hers because she's frightened and in pain, and not fully understanding what's happening, and why she has all the tubes and wires attached to her. Ours because it hurts us to see her in so much pain that we can't make go away.'
Rory Feek has revealed his daughter, Indiana, 12, is recovering after surgery to repair a congenital heart defect; Feek is pictured with Indiana in 2019
In an emotional update posted on his This Life I Live Substack , the country singer, 61, shared Indiana 'should live a full, long life' following the delicate procedure
Feek explained they’d known for a few months that Indiana would need open-heart surgery as the hole in her heart had begun to cause complications.
The operation was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but had been postponed to Thursday morning.
He added he wasn't sure Indiana needed the extra day, but he did 'to process all that her little heart, and ours, was about to go through.'
Throughout the surgery, Feek and Rebecca were updated hourly by a nurse how their little girl was faring.
'At one point, she said the surgeon had found something new that concerned him - which greatly concerned us - but it turned out to be fine,' he added.
'The hole in her heart is closed, the blockages are cleared, and she should make a full recovery and live a full, long, life.'
Feek went on to say that Indiana was sleeping a lot post-surgery, 'but mostly when she wakes there are only tears. And much confusion.'
The songwriter, who has written tunes for Blake Shelton, Clay Walker, Tracy Byrd and other artists, admitted he has been on an emotional rollercoaster right alongside his daughter.
Indiana, who has Down syndrome, was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD), a small hole in her heart and diagnosed with the condition shortly after her birth in 2014
Feek and his wife, Rebecca, who is Indiana's stepmom, were updated hourly by a nurse how the little girl was faring during the procedure
Like her late mother, Joey Feek, Indiana loves to play the piano and spend time outdoors
Indiana's mom, Joey, was one-half of the country and gospel duo Joey + Rory and tragically died of metastatic cervical cancer in 2016
'Blessed to be here, but disappointed to be here. Thankful that it’s done, but heartbroken that it has had to be at all. Mostly grateful that we’re not here alone. That we’re surrounded by so much love,' he shared.
Indiana is the daughter of Feek and his late wife Joey - who formed one-half of the Grammy-winning country and gospel duo Joey + Rory and died in 2016 from metastatic cervical cancer.
Feek also has daughters, Heidi and Hopie, from his first marriage to Tamara Gilmer. In 2025, however, he learned he was not the biological father of Hopie.
In July 2024, The Gentleman crooner wed Rebecca in an intimate setting in Greycliff, Montana. Rebecca had been Indiana's schoolteacher and longtime family friend.
According to Billboard, Indiana played a role in bringing them together, seeing Rebecca as a new mother figure.
English (US) ·