A Mother’s Strength, A Little Girl’s Fight: Oaklee Rayne’s Journey Through Transplant Life

Mark White | The Mark White Show

Albertville, Alabama - Some stories touch us because they remind us how fragile life can be. Others remind us how strong the human spirit is. Five-year-old Oaklee Rayne continues to show the world both truths at the same time.

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Oaklee entered life facing a reality many parents have never even heard of. Her mother, Alexis Atchley, recalls the day everything changed. A routine OB appointment revealed a two-vessel umbilical cord. That discovery led them to UAB, where the diagnosis came quickly and decisively.

“It was life-changing,” Alexis told me. “Everything went up in flames in about five seconds.”

From that moment forward, the Atchley family stepped into a world of constant appointments, specialists, and uncertainty. Oaklee’s medical team made it clear that all care would take place at Children’s of Alabama. Nothing about this journey would be simple.

A Heart Transplant Before Her First Birthday

At just five months old, Oaklee underwent a heart transplant. Many people assume transplant means the battle is over. But for this family, it meant something different, a chance at life, but not a cure.

There were beautiful moments, including one Alexis will never forget: Oaklee’s oxygen level hitting 100% for the first time in her life.

“I walked in, saw that number, and said, ‘We’ve never seen this.’”

Still, a week after transplant, Oaklee suffered a major bleed. Her path forward would be filled with medications, procedures, therapies, and the emotional toll that comes with caring for a medically fragile child.

Twenty medications a day. G-tube feeds every three hours. Weekly therapy. Homebound schooling. And countless hospital stays.

A Scare No Parent Ever Forgets

Most recently, Oaklee was scheduled for a heart catheterization. Complications from a prior sinus surgery caused significant bleeding. When doctors prepared to move forward with the catheterization, her heart rate spiked and her blood pressure dropped.

“Immediately my mind went back to last December,” Alexis said, recalling when Oaklee went into cardiac arrest during a similar procedure.

This time, doctors stopped quickly, and Oaklee stabilized. They will try again on December 2nd.

It was a terrifying moment, one of many this family has faced, yet Oaklee remains resilient. As Alexis says, “She walks into the hospital like it’s just another day.”

The Weight Caregivers Carry

While much of the public sees updates and photos on social media, what they don’t see is the exhaustion behind the scenes. Caregiving for a medically complex child is physically and emotionally draining.

The hardest part for Alexis?

“Watching your child hurt and not being able to fix it.”

Yet through all of this, she continues to advocate for her daughter with a determination few will ever understand.

A Community Steps Forward

This season, the Alabama Storm Troopers launched a Pray It Forward fundraiser to help the Atchley family with Christmas and ongoing support. With medical demands higher than ever and another heart catheterization ahead, this effort comes at a critical time.

Oaklee deserves a season filled with joy, and her family deserves a reminder that they are not walking this alone.

To support Oaklee and her family, visit: linktr.ee/ALStormTroopers

Hope in the Hardest Places

Through every challenge, Oaklee continues to smile, play with her brother, and face life with a courage far beyond her years. Alexis continues to walk this path with strength and faith, supported by a community that refuses to let them carry this burden alone.

On The Mark White Show, I’ve met many families facing difficult circumstances. Each story is different, but one truth remains constant: love and support make an enormous difference.

Oaklee’s fight is far from over, but she is not fighting alone. And that is something powerful.