Update as of Thursday, March 10th: Ari Judah Williams made her debut a little earlier than expected. Due to some complications over the weekend Bethany was induced a few days sooner than planned and Ari entered the world Tuesday, March 8th at 10:22pm weighing 3lbs and 11oz. Her little lungs had some trouble the first night so she put on a ventilator and some medication to help her breathing. She has already graduated to a different type of ventilator that allows her lungs to work for themselves a little bit and has begun weaning off the medication. Our Lord continues to watch over her and protect her and gives her more and more strength everyday. She truly is a Lion. Bethany will be released from the hospital today and will get to go home to Asher and Abram who have been busy working on a Happy Cake with their Nana and P-Paw while they anxiously await Bethany and Josh’s arrival! They will continue to travel back and forth to and from the hospital, spending time with Asher and Abram at home and Ari in the NICU. We continue to thank you for joining us in supporting them in this journey. Your thoughts, prayers, and generosity are beyond appreciated. 

March 2nd, 2022

Hi everyone and welcome to the Williams Family’s Go Fund Me page. I am Bethany’s sister and would like to share their story with you in hopes that their journey inspires you, moves you, and instills within you the miraculous work of the Lord and also to provide you with the opportunity to support them through prayer and financially if you choose to do so. These past few months have been accompanied with heaviness, stress, and the unknown for Bethany, Josh, Asher, and Abram, and Ari; however, Christ has showered them with the hope, joy, peace, and strength that reminds that He is in control and has been and always will provide refuge through any storm.

Back in August, Bethany received the wonderful news that she was expecting Baby Williams #3. They were elated and couldn’t wait to give Asher and Abram another sibling. Unfortunately, Bethany lost this baby. Navigating through this loss was difficult, especially while caring for two other little ones at home. But the Lord new what their hearts needed and encouraged her and Josh to try again only two weeks later and sure enough their little Ari girl was on her way.

Bethany delivered both Asher and Abram in the comfort of her own home under the care of a midwife and was choosing this path for Ari as well. Her pregnancy was going well and 6 weeks turned into 8, then 12, and then 16…

At just about 20 weeks pregnant Bethany started not feeling well. She had some cold-like symptoms but nothing she was too concerned about. She went to bed the night before she was exactly 20 weeks pregnant and woke up at 1:30am to her water breaking. She rushed herself to the hospital where she had test after test performed. It was confirmed that her water did indeed break but Ari was still strong and healthy. Unfortunately, because she was only 20 weeks pregnant Ari was not considered “viable”. Therefore, the doctors gently told her to go home “and wait”, the most painful words that could ever be spoken. Josh took Bethany home and after only a short time there she became very ill. She developed a fever, which the doctors had advised she return to the hospital if that happened. So they turned back around, were admitted, and more tests were performed. That is when she was diagnosed with Covid. She was transferred to a different hospital that was better equipped for high-risk pregnancies and this is when the miracles started pouring in. Her uterus had miraculously resealed itself and her amniotic fluid had fully regenerated. Praise the Lord! She was also given a Covid-19 antibody treatment at this hospital and after two days was released to go home to her family. We couldn’t believe it. She was told to take it easy and regularly follow up with her high-risk OB team. Josh’s parents traveled to Indiana to stay with them for the time being so that Bethany could rest, heal, and give Ari the best chance for life. 20 weeks turned into 21, then 22, then 23…

At 24 weeks Bethany was admitted to the hospital again. Her water was leaking again, but Ari was now VIABLE and was as healthy as ever. Bethany was put on bedrest until delivery and was surrounded by the most amazing team of doctors and labor and delivery and NICU nurses. This hospital stay came with many ups and downs. She received good news of her uterus resealing itself again and was told she could potentially do her bedrest and monitoring at home. However, that was quickly followed by finding out Ari had a nuchal x3 meaning the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck 3 times and her care plan drastically changed again to 24/7 in hospital monitoring. The tables turned again when an ultrasound showed that Ari had fully unraveled herself and going home was once again an option. The drastic turn of events was very hard on Bethany mentally, but her heart and hopes were lifted on February 9th when she returned home a second time! If God’s wondrous powers weren’t evident before, they definitely were now. Bethany and Ari were thrilled to be sleeping in their own bed, eating home cooked meals, and spending time with Asher and Abram. They missed their Mama so much and were so happy to have that constant back in their lives. This time my (and Bethany’s) mom went to Indiana to help so Bethany and Josh could focus on Bethany’s and Ari’s health. At home Bethany was responsible for monitoring her own vital signs and also Ari’s heartrate multiple times a day. She also regularly followed with her high-risk OB numerous times per week. Every healthy day that passed we knew was a gift from God and a huge step closer toward Ari’s safe journey earthside.

On February 18th Bethany was admitted back to the hospital after a routine ultrasound. There was no measurable fluid around Ari, and her heartrate was showing sporadic decelerations. Bethany was told this hospital admittance was for the long haul this time. The goal was to make it to 28 weeks gestation but the longer they could keep Ari on the inside the better. Bethany’s days in the hospital are filled with ultrasounds, baby monitoring, lots and lots of IV fluids, tons of facetime calls, prayer and devotion, and visits from Josh and sometimes Asher and Abram (they have become hospital favorites of course). She has been blessed with an incredible nursing team who treat her like family and numerous doctors who continue to keep her and Josh actively involved in their care plan.

Bethany is set to be induced on March, 9th at 30 weeks gestation. We ask that you pray for a safe and stressless delivery for Mama and baby, for the wisdom of Bethany’s and Ari’s doctors and nurses, and for strength for their entire family. We also ask that you pray for peace and understanding for Asher and Abram who are missing their Mama dearly and anxiously awaiting the arrival of their baby sister.

This page has been created as a place for you to follow along Bethany’s and Ari’s journey and also provide you with the opportunity to donate financially toward their medical bills. We pray that God will take any and all donations and maximize them to their fullest potential so that Bethany and Josh can spend their time and energy focusing on their growing family without the shadow of financial stress.

Thank you for being here. We are beyond grateful for your thoughts, prayers, and support.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14