Indiana “Indy” Feek, the daughter of Rory Feek and the late Joey Feek (who formed the country music duo Joey + Rory), recently underwent open heart surgery.

Indy was born in 2014. Shortly after, Joey learned that she had cervical cancer. She passed away in 2016, less than a month after Indy’s second birthday.

Indy was born with Down syndrome. Not long after her birth, she was also diagnosed with a VSD (ventricular septal defect), which is a small hole in the heart. As Rory explained on his blog, “they say that about half of all little ones born with Down syndrome have heart issues,” and Indy is among those who do.

VSDs often close on their own or can be managed without treatment. However, they sometimes require surgery after the child grows. In Indy’s case, her VSD required surgical intervention.

Writing on his blog, Rory said that Indy’s cardiologist informed them her condition is not life-threatening. However, if left unaddressed, “it could affect not just her quality of life, but the length of life as well.”

Indy was originally supposed to go in for her surgery on Wednesday, June 24th. But due to an emergency situation with another patient, the procedure was postponed to the next day (June 25th).

Rory said, as a father, “the hardest part” of all of this has been helping Indy emotionally prepare for the surgery. “But I also know that when it’s done, it’s going to make her life better,” he wrote.

Rory Feek Shares How His Daughter, Indy, Is Doing After Her Surgery

Rory Feek had thousands of people praying for his little girl. His fans waited anxiously for an update following Indy’s surgery on June 25th.

That long-awaited update finally came later that day. In a new blog post titled “recovering,” Rory wrote that Indy was in the ICU and recovering from her operation.

Rory remarried in 2024 to a woman named Rebecca. When he and Rebecca walked into the room after Indy’s surgery, she began to cry.

Rory said Indy’s tears started flowing “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.”

Meanwhile, he and Rebecca were crying too, “because it hurts us to see her in so much pain that we can’t make go away.”

Rory said “a wonderful nurse” gave them hourly updates throughout Indy’s surgery. In one update, she shared that the surgeon “found something new that concerned him…but it turned out to be fine.”

After a few more hours, the surgery was complete. Indy’s doctor said it went well, and she did wonderfully.

“The hole in her heart is closed, the blockages are cleared, and she should make a full recovery and live a full, long, life. Thank you Jesus,” Rory wrote.

In his previous blog post, Rory said Indy will remain in the ICU for about a week after her surgery. Then, she’ll spend another six to eight weeks recovering at home “before life gets back to normal for her.“

He offered some insight into how Indy is doing, saying she is “teetering between awake and asleep… peaceful, and upset.” She’s also only allowed to have water for the time being.

Writing in his new “recovering” blog post, Rory Feek said:

“It’s hard to believe but one day soon, Indy will be running and playing with her friends again. And today will only be a memory.”

We’re so relieved to hear that Indy’s surgery went well. She’ll be in our continued prayers…