Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of childhood illnesses and hospitalization.
Maya Wharton is on the mend.
The three-year-old daughter of Teen Mom and The Challenge star Cory Wharton and former girlfriend Taylor Selfridge is recovering well from open-heart surgery, her dad has shared to social media.
“Tuesday, Maya had Open-Heart Surgery (Fontan Procedure) & everything went well,” Cory posted to Instagram on Saturday. “I want to say thank you for all the prayers because they definitely were heard and answered.
“Right now we’re still in the recovery phase which has its own challenges, every time you think things are getting better, a new challenge arises, but we’ll just keep tackling them as they come. Maya’s a fighter and she’s got this.”
Per The Cleveland Clinic, a Fontan procedure improves circulation in people who have only one working heart ventricle. Maya, who has the congenital heart disease Tricuspid atresia and had her first surgery shortly after birth, had a Glenn procedure in January 2023, which, according to the Cleveland Clinic sends oxygen-poor blood from the upper body through the superior vena cava to the pulmonary artery.
On Snapchat, Cory shared photos and videos from Maya’s hospital stay, sharing the emotions and exhaustion he and Taylor have experienced.
“Also so thankful that I’m not doing this alone. Taylor is such an amazing mom not gonna lie, she made sure we had everything set and can’t say enough about having her here,” he posted.
Cory’s also shared Maya’s ongoing progress post-surgery, which has included drinking apple juice, standing, having tubes removed, playing with a singing Elsa doll, covering her dad in stickers, meeting a therapy dog and watching cartoons.
“That’s a warrior right there,” he said of the toddler in one Snapchat clip.
Maya did have a rough night this week with Cory reporting that she had nightmares and, as a result, the two got less than an hour sleep. Overall, though, her recovery has gone well.
“It’s already 10 times better than the first open-heart surgery because she was on a ventilator, she was on a ventilator twice in that one,” Cory shared on Snapchat.
He’s feeling positive that Maya’s strong recovery will continue.
“We got this,” he posted. “A smile that brightens my days so happy she is smiling now. Small wins.”
In addition to Maya, Cory and Taylor are also parents to daughter Mila. Cory has a daughter Ryder with ex Cheyenne Floyd, who has son Ace and a baby on the way with husband Zach Davis.
(Photos: Instagram; Snapchat)
9 Responses
I wish he would stop posting pics of his daughters while they are in the hospital. We strangers don’t need to see them in such a private, vulnerable moment. Respect their privacy.
I think it is more about him posting pictures of himself. He is front and center in every shot.
It’s called exploitation.
Please don’t come after me it is a true concern. Since Ryder and Mya both had heart problems could it be a genetic disorder on Cory’s side of the family? I think or hope if I was in their shoes they would do genetic testing.
Yes. He and rest of his side of the family should get some genetic testing done.
With Ryder the heart issues was due to the VLCAD, right? I take it if Maya had VLCAD they would know by now
Such a sweet girl, I wish her a speedy recovery!
May Maya continue to heal and get strong.
Cory is such a dope – no need to blast about another family’s sick child.
makes me so sad seeing kids be this sick but i’m glad maya has such a loving strong support system, she’s a strong little girl ❤️