A Heart That Needs Your Help: Walker the Warrior’s Heart Transplant Journey
Seven-year-old Walker Farrington has been fighting since the day he was born.
Brian and Nicole were told at their 20 week anatomy scan that their little boy would be born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), specifically VSDs and ASDs (holes in the heart). Over the last 7 years, Walker has undergone two extensive open heart surgeries, has lived with a pacemaker since he was three months old, has had 6 heart catheterization procedures, and many, many lengthy hospital stays for various illnesses. He survived cardiac arrest at 3 months old, 5 days on ECMO and came through it all. Because that’s who Walker is, a fighter.
Over the last 7 years, Walker has faced more than any child should ever have to: countless daily medications, weeks and sometimes months spent in hospitals, weekly infusions, and rocked an NG feeding tube for 14 months. He has done it all with the love and tireless dedication of his parents, Nicole and Brian, by his side every step of the way.
Now Walker needs a heart transplant.
Walker is cared for by the remarkable team at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he has received world-class care since his family relocated from California to the East Coast in 2022. Beginning in mid-April 2026, Walker will be admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital and begin his evaluation for heart transplant, and if deemed a good candidate, he will then be listed as Status 1A and begin his long wait for a miracle heart. The team has prepared the Farringtons to expect at least a 12-month wait, with Walker living in the hospital for the duration of that time.
Remaining together as a family throughout this incredibly difficult time is of utmost importance to the Farringtons. This means leaving their home in New York and relocating to the Boston-area in the coming months, finding a place to rent near the hospital, enrolling their daughter Kennedy (5) in a new school for Kindergarten, and securing full-time childcare for their youngest, McCoy (3). This would allow Brian to continue working to support the family and maintain their health insurance while Nicole manages Walker’s care at the hospital. Brian and Nicole are extremely grateful to have the full support of Brian’s company, Fox, a team that has remained steadfast in their support throughout Walker’s heart journey. They are also supportive in Brian working remotely from Boston so the Farringtons can be together as a family.
About Nicole & Brian
Nicole and Brian Farrington are two of the most compassionate, loving, and generous people you will ever meet. From the moment Walker was diagnosed, they faced the fear and uncertainty of CHD with incredible strength and grace—always putting their children first, always showing up for each other, proudly spreading CHD awareness, and somehow still finding ways to show up for everyone around them.
Nicole is the person who never forgets your birthday, your anniversary, or your first day at a new job. She’s the friend who checks in when you’re struggling, who shows up at your door with dinner and stays for hours when you need someone most. Brian is the steady, hardworking heart of his family—supporting his crew by day at Fox in New York City, and on the weekends as the every-sport coach, church chauffeur, and loudest clapper in the room at a ballet recital.
Nicole also just unexpectedly lost her Dad, Curt Schade, who sadly passed away suddenly on February 28, 2026. She is now also working through her grief as she moves toward this big family transition.
They have navigated so much of this journey on their own. It’s time for us to step up for them.
About Walker
Walker is the little boy who leaves an impact on everyone he meets, striking up a conversation with anyone at any time, and the king of one-liners. Walker loves sports and is a proud lifelong member of Niners Nation. One of his most memorable moments was going to two 49ers games this past season and getting to meet his favorite players (shoutout to CMC!) on the field. Walker also found himself hitting a homerun in Yankee Stadium in front of 39,000 people cheering him on with the Savannah Bananas. When he’s not cheering on the pros, Walker has found a passion for flag football, baseball, golf, and basketball. Though never the fastest on the team, no one is a better teammate than Walker.
He’s also a loving older brother, carefully watching out for wild-child McCoy and humoring his makeup-loving, princess dress-up wearing sister Kennedy.
How Your Support Helps
Every contribution, whether it be monetary and/or keeping the family in your prayers, will make a profound difference in their lives. Every dollar raised will go directly toward supporting the Farrington family during their time in Boston: covering rent near BCH, childcare for Kennedy and McCoy (Nicole’s role as a stay-at-home mother will greatly shift), and the everyday expenses that add up during an extensive hospital stay.
Your generous donations will play a crucial role in helping the family navigate this long journey, and we also ask you to please share if you feel inclined. Getting Walker’s story in front of more people is just as meaningful as monetary donations.
Walker has been fighting for his whole life. Now it’s our turn to fight for him.
Please donate today, and help the Farrington family while they wait for their miracle. ❤️
About the Organizers
This GoFundMe is being organized on behalf of the Farrington family and their brave 7 year old heart warrior, Walker, by Nicole’s friends, Eden and Lindsey, as well as Brian’s brothers, Frankie and Kevin, and Nicole’s brother, Dan, and sister-in-law Andrea. We will be utilizing this space as a way to periodically share updates on Walker’s heart transplant journey and a place to share messages of support.
Funds raised will be distributed directly to Nicole and Brian Farrington to cover housing, childcare, and hospital-incurred expenses while Walker receives care at Boston Children’s Hospital.
