Cory Wharton's little princess is on the road to recovery. Following the second open-heart surgery for a rare congenital heart defect that his 3-year-old daughter, Maya Wharton—whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Taylor Selfridge—underwent, Cory shared an update on her progress. "I want to give everyone an update: On Tuesday, Maya had Open-Heart Surgery (Fontan Procedure), and everything went smoothly," Cory wrote in an Instagram post on October 10. "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the prayers; they were undoubtedly heard and answered. Right now, we're still in the recovery phase, which comes with its own set of challenges, every time you think things are looking up."
In his message, he underscored that his toddler faces a tough journey ahead, but she's more than capable of handling it. "A new challenge always pops up, but we'll just keep tackling them as they come," he added. "Maya’s a fighter, and she’s got this."
Cory went on to extend his thanks to those who kept their family in their thoughts and prayers during the procedure—and urged his followers to remember other children like his daughter who are battling health issues. "There are many kids here whose situations may not improve much, and you see that walking around the Children’s Hospital," he continued. "It's heartbreaking. It just made me realize that I want to do everything in my power to help families in these situations. So, yeah, perspective is everything."
As Maya continues to heal, Cory noted that the family would be spending the next week or so at the hospital. "I’ll keep you all updated, hopefully with only good news," he concluded. "Again, I just want to say thanks."
The reality star—who is also a father to his and Taylor's 5-year-old daughter, Mila Wharton, as well as 8-year-old Ryder, with ex Cheyenne Floyd—had previously shared that he and Taylor had been anticipating the surgery for over three years. "We found out that she had Tricuspid Atresia when Taylor was pregnant," Cory explained on Instagram on October 2. "We knew that she was going to require at least two open-heart surgeries, and the day is slowly arriving. I'm excited for her to get it done and for us to put it behind us. But I'm also very anxious and nervous for it to happen."
The 34-year-old noted that Maya's first heart surgery at 6 months old in January 2023 "didn't go as planned," with her being admitted to the ICU for two weeks instead of a few days. Despite their fears, Cory and Taylor know their toddler is up for the challenge. As he put it, "She's a warrior, and I know she's got this."
Ahead of Maya's surgery, Taylor, who split from Cory in May, shared her insights into the procedure, which they hope will be her final one, allowing her "to live a long, healthy life." "I'm super anxious but excited," the 31-year-old explained on Instagram on September 29, "for her to finally be past this part of her life." "It's been 4 years (including when I was pregnant) of constant worry for her, and I'm so grateful for the journey," Taylor—who first met Cory on Ex on the Beach in 2018—continued. "I've learned so much, and I look at life so differently now. I'm so proud of my baby girl for everything she's been through."
