UPDATE: March 4 at 2 p.m.
Following a successful heart transplant, Malia Croley's chest tubes and pacing wires are officially out, according to the page Malia's heart journey.
The page noted that taking out the chest tube is a huge step forward in her journey.
"Every milestone means her body is healing and getting stronger," the page read.
UPDATE: March 2 at 9 a.m.
A Lexington girl has successfully received a heart transplant after months of waiting at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, according to a social media page dedicated to her journey.
Malia Croley has been battling cardiomyopathy and spent months at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital waiting for a new heart. According to the Facebook page "Malia's Heart Journey," her new heart arrived and surgeons completed the transplant procedure.
"We are beyond grateful for the donor family. There are truly no words big enough to thank them for their selfless gift in the middle of unimaginable loss. Because of them, our baby has a second chance," the page said.
The road to the transplant included at least one setback. An earlier donor heart was turned down after doctors determined it "wasn't the perfect heart."
"Sometimes what feels like a setback is really God's way of saying, 'Not this one, I have something better.' His plan is always greater than our understanding, and we are holding onto that faith more than ever tonight," the page said.
Following the surgery, the page on Monday confirmed Malia was taken off bypass and an echocardiogram came back looking great.
"My baby is almost done with surgery. Thank you, God," the page said.
UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2025 at 5:20 p.m.
In a sad update, a 5-year-old Lexington girl's heart transplant has been postponed after doctors determined the donor heart "wasn’t the perfect heart," a social media page dedicated to her journey announced on Tuesday.
Malia Croley has been battling cardiomyopathy and has been waiting for a new heart for months, spending 137 days at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
"Sometimes what feels like a setback is really God’s way of saying, “Not this one, I have something better.” His plan is always greater than our understanding, and we are holding onto that faith more than ever tonight," the page continued.
Original Story:
LEX 18 has been following Malia's journey as she waited for a new heart amid her battle with cardiomyopathy. Now, she is set to receive a new heart, according to the Facebook page "Malia's heart journey."
The page read, "It's hard to put into words what this moment means. After months of praying, waiting, and holding on through some of the hardest days, Malia has been given the gift of a second chance at life."
"We ask for your continued prayers as she heads into surgery tomorrow, and we want to thank everyone who has been here with us on this long journey — every message, prayer, and bit of love has helped carry us through," the post added.
Covering Kentucky
As 5-year-old girl battles cardiomyopathy, her mother is raising awareness
Malia's mother, Jerrica Croley told LEX 18 in August, "She gets about 100,000 views on her videos, but I feel like every last one of those is a prayer, and it helps. It helps me every single day."
In September, students at William Wells Brown Elementary in Lexington showed their support for Malia by creating colorful cards full of drawings and inspiration for Malia. The cards included phrases like "Keep Fighting Malia," "We Miss You" and "Get Well Soon."
The post on Monday concluded, "A huge thank you to God, who has held us through every single day and made this moment possible."
