Kennedy Cherrington recounts traumatic open heart surgery that saved her life

Kennedy Cherrington is a NSWRL star and captain of the Maori All-Stars but at the age of eight she required open heart surgery to save her life.

Each time Kennedy Cherrington takes the field, she plays as though her life depends on it.

Because there was a time, during her childhood, that the idea of making it to the next day was doubtful.

“How I see it is when I was eight, I got a second chance at life,” Cherrington told this masthead.

“So I want to take every opportunity. And that’s my origin story and why I am the person I am today.”

NRLW star Kennedy Cherrington suffered a heart condition as a child.Picture Thomas Lisson

Women's Maori All Stars captains Kennedy Cherrington with other mens and womens All Stars captains. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The NRLW star, who co-captains the Moari All Stars women’s team in Saturday’s clash against the Indigenous All Stars, was diagnosed with a leaky heart valve aged three.

But five years later, the issue became life threatening.

“At times, like after sport, I’d have purple lips,” she said. “Sometimes I’d be like out of breath.

“And then it wasn’t until my parents took me to get a second opinion from a doctor out in Western Sydney, and it turned out I needed lifesaving open heart surgery like two days later.

“So it was quite a fast-track process because it was kind of not nothing, but something only little, and then something so sinister the next day. So my heart had enlarged, double the size, because it was overworking.

“If you know the heart anatomy, my heart valves weren’t connected to my heart wall properly.

“So blood flow wasn’t working properly.

“I was, not misdiagnosed, but kind of led to believe that something else was wrong with my heart when it turns out it was something else.

“It wasn’t until I was eight, I had two doctors that kind of pushed me to see a cardiologist and then see a surgeon. And then it turns out I needed lifesaving open heart surgery. So it was quite a shock to my parents.

“You know, one day you think your kid’s fine. And then the next day she’s undergoing pretty major surgery.”

Cherrington recalls every detail during that traumatic time.

Kennedy Cherrington, aged eight, recovers after her open heart surgery, pictured here with brother Winniata Cherrington.

“It’s pretty scary, I remember everything,” she said.

“They say that stress works in a funny way. I remember every detail.

“I remember learning how to breathe again with bubbles. I remember having a big cut, my chest was so painful. I remember the doctors and the nurses, all the language I had to understand at such a young age.

“My parents were quite transparent with telling me everything I went through. And I thought that was the best thing because I knew exactly what was going on with my body.

“So they didn’t wrap me up in cotton wool, which I’m really grateful for to this day because it’s allowed me to be really independent with my health.

“I just remember the little things, like waking up from surgery, before surgery, being knocked out, those intricate details around surgery.

“But the one thing I do remember is running my cross-country three months later and feeling like a whole new person. And, you know, I’m only eight, but very self-aware with how my body was feeling post, pre-surgery and post-surgery.”

The 26-year-old, who recently signed a three-year extension with Parramatta Eels, has become an ambassador for HeartKids, a charity that helps fund care for children affected by heart conditions.

RLW star Kennedy Cherrington is the face of the heart kids charity, Kennedy suffered a heart condition as a child. Picture Thomas Lisson

They’re hoping to raise $350,000 this month through a fundraising campaign.

“I’m a HeartKid myself, I think I am a direct inspiration of what kids can do with the support around them, and that’s what Heart Kids gives them,” Cherrington said.

“It’s supporting them in early days, in early childhood, financially.

“I’ve gone through what they’ve gone through, and Heart Kids has allowed me to work with the kids that have lived my story when I was younger.

“I see a lot of kids that I’ve worked with and had heart surgery, and their conditions kind of drive them to live in fear.

“But being a HeartKids ambassador, I’ve just wanted to instil confidence that they can do anything they want, regardless of if they have a heart condition or not.

“And that’s just by practising being healthy, eating healthy food, exercising, being active or playing sports.

“That’s how I use it to drive that message in being your authentic self, but also looking after your body, making the right decisions to look after ourselves, because we do have a condition, but you don’t want it to limit your life and your potential in this world.”

To donate, visit www.sweetheartsforheartkids.org.au/Donate