If you are fortunate enough to know Kevin and Siubhan Hebron you understand the incredible love they have for one another, for their family and friends, and most especially for their children August, 6 and Arthur, 5. When Arthur got sick in mid-March 2023, they thought it was a routine illness he picked up in school and that it, like the others he and his sister had shared earlier in the year, would pass in a day or two.

As days went by, Arthur’s illness progressed and he was hospitalized close with pneumonia. Again, they thought Arthur would easily take down this illness with his usual bravery and strength. More days passed and Arthur’s condition grew more serious, with local healthcare workers determining fluid had spread outside of his right lung and he would need to take an ambulance ride an hour and a half north to Cooper Hospital in Camden.

Arthur was admitted and his doctors quickly noted his shallow breathing and worsening vitals. He was sent to the pediatric ICU immediately.

In the ICU, Arthur saw his worst days yet. The infection was spreading, surrounding his right lung completely. He was struggling to breathe and had to be sedated and placed on c-pap machine to ensure he was getting the oxygen he needed. He spent multiple days in and out of consciousness while medicines were pumped into him and a tube was placed in his chest to help remove the built-up fluid. While he was making progress, the bad news continued to come and Kevin and Siubhan learned that part of Arthur’s lung may be irreversibly damaged.

Fortunately, today Arthur is recovering from his pneumonia. While he is still hospitalized, he is moving fluid out of his body and away from his lungs, he is being slowly, but surely weened off of oxygen, and he is no longer receiving sedative drugs. Although, frustrated and a little bored it looks like he will continue to get better.

Through all this Kevin and Siubhan have been by Arthur’s side and because of this out of work. As small business owners, they make their livelihood in construction. When they don’t work, they, of course, don’t get paid. Without sick days and work leave they are depleting funds daily to stay by their son’s side.

While they have been aided with lodging assistance from the Ronald McDonald House, they still have bills and payments waiting for them miles away at home. Arthur will continue to need care once his pneumonia clears, including multiple weeks of physical therapy and other appointments to help him fully heal.

It is now unclear how long it will be before they can return to work, which is why we are asking friends, family and anyone else who knows and loves the Hebrons to help support them during this difficult and unexpected time.