Introduction
Heartbreaking News About Rory Feek’s Family – A Touching Journey of a Father and His Special Daughter Indiana
Country music artist Rory Feek has shared a deeply emotional story about his daughter Indiana—a journey filled with love, challenges, and hope.
Rory first married Tamara Gilmer in 1985, and together they had two daughters, Heidi and Hopie. After their divorce in 1992, Rory found love again with Joey Martin. They married in 2002 and welcomed their daughter Indiana on February 17, 2014. Shortly after her birth, Indiana was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
Tragedy struck when Joey, a loving and strong mother, passed away in March 2016 after a two-year battle with cervical cancer. Since then, Rory has raised their young daughter alone, pouring his heart into being both mother and father.
In his heartfelt reflections, Rory shared that he and Joey were initially warned to prepare for a child with “low potential,” as books and doctors had suggested. But Indiana quickly proved those expectations wrong. She is intelligent, thoughtful, and in many ways, just like any other child—except for some physical differences such as almond-shaped eyes and needing braces in her shoes to help her walk.
“We didn’t see her as a child with Down syndrome,” Rory said. “We saw her simply as a child.” He emphasized that her condition isn’t something separate—it is a natural and inseparable part of her and of their family life.
Rory also addressed a painful statistic: between 70% and 90% of women who learn their unborn baby has Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy. He admitted he could understand the fear behind such decisions but now believes it’s based on a misconception.
“We’ve been taught to feel sorry for parents who don’t have a ‘typical’ child—as if they’re carrying a heavier burden for life,” Rory wrote. “But that’s not true.”
Indiana, now 8 years old, is the light of Rory’s life. Every morning, she jumps out of bed with joy and eagerness to start the day. Rory often finds himself in awe—wondering how he got so lucky to be her father.
“She is God’s gift,” Rory says. “She brought joy to a family that was supposed to be filled with sorrow.”