Baby William's Medical Expenses & Intensive Care
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Please prayerfully consider giving to the Arbelaez family as they care for their newborn son, William Daniel Arbelaez. William was born with a coarctation of the aorta and has already undergone several major procedures in a very short period of time.
Your generosity will help alleviate the financial burden on Meggie and Danny as they remain vigilant by William's side at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.
Your generosity will help alleviate the financial burden on Meggie and Danny as they remain vigilant by William's side at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.
William was born on March 12, 2022, at AdventHealth in Winter Park, Florida. Danny and Meggie were overjoyed at the birth of their baby boy but quickly realized something was wrong.
Shortly after his birth, William developed labored breathing and was admitted to the NICU with fluid in his lungs. After several days of oxygen, William's condition improved, so the doctors allowed Danny and Meggie to take little William home.
Sadly, William was unable to gain weight and his condition quickly deteriorated. Meggie and Danny went back to the emergency room only two days after bringing William home and visited three different pediatricians before growing tired of non-answers.
The Arbelaezes kept advocating for William, sensing something was wrong. After a pediatrician appointment on Wednesday, April 6, William was admitted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. They went into the hospital thinking William was just a fussy baby with a formula issue and fast breathing, but doctors later told them those are all signs of heart failure.
After extensive testing and an echocardiogram (echo) on the afternoon of Thursday, April 7, William was immediately admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.
Less than a month after William's birth, doctors diagnosed him with congenital coarctation of the aorta, which means that a part of William's aorta — the passageway carrying oxygen-rich blood to the body — is too narrow. The narrowing, or coarctation, was blocking normal blood flow to the lower half of William's body.
Less than a month after William's birth, doctors diagnosed him with congenital coarctation of the aorta, which means that a part of William's aorta — the passageway carrying oxygen-rich blood to the body — is too narrow. The narrowing, or coarctation, was blocking normal blood flow to the lower half of William's body.
On the morning of Friday, April 8, doctors performed an emergency open-heart surgery to open the aorta. If Danny and Meggie had not taken action when they did, doctors believe William wouldn’t have made it another 24 hours.
On Thursday, April 14, William was discharged from the hospital. They were home with William for 10 days when Meggie and Danny noticed William was showing similar symptoms of labored breathing, extreme fussiness, and trouble eating.
On Sunday, April 24, they took William back to Arnold Palmer Hospital ER where an echo revealed William had developed a recoarctation and were immediately admitted to the CVICU.
The doctors monitored his symptoms for two days and said he was well enough to go home. They were discharged on Tuesday, April 26, with a plan to be in close coordination with his cardiologist and pediatrician. Wednesday and Thursday were very hard days for the entire Arbelaez/Terwilleger family as they knew William was not fully healthy and that he should be back in the hospital.
On Thursday, April 14, William was discharged from the hospital. They were home with William for 10 days when Meggie and Danny noticed William was showing similar symptoms of labored breathing, extreme fussiness, and trouble eating.
On Sunday, April 24, they took William back to Arnold Palmer Hospital ER where an echo revealed William had developed a recoarctation and were immediately admitted to the CVICU.
The doctors monitored his symptoms for two days and said he was well enough to go home. They were discharged on Tuesday, April 26, with a plan to be in close coordination with his cardiologist and pediatrician. Wednesday and Thursday were very hard days for the entire Arbelaez/Terwilleger family as they knew William was not fully healthy and that he should be back in the hospital.
On Friday, April 29, Meggie and Danny went to William's cardiologist appointment with a sense from the Holy Spirit that William would be going back to the hospital that day. Their sense was right and the cardiologist readmitted William as soon as she read the results of his echo.
William's recurrent coarctation had rapidly increased since his last echo five days prior. Doctors informed Meggie and Danny that the speed at which his aorta narrowed is extremely rare. William has remained under intensive care since this time in order to be monitored around the clock.
William's recurrent coarctation had rapidly increased since his last echo five days prior. Doctors informed Meggie and Danny that the speed at which his aorta narrowed is extremely rare. William has remained under intensive care since this time in order to be monitored around the clock.
On Monday, May 2, William had a heart catheter procedure to repair his re-coarctation. During the procedure, the doctors discovered William has a hypoplastic aortic arch, which means that there is a blockage in a certain location in William’s aorta that will require another open-heart surgery.
Danny and Meggie prayed relentlessly that God would help them make the right decision so that William would be in the best possible care. God graciously answered their prayers and made the decision abundantly clear.
On Thursday, May 5, William was airlifted to UF Health Shands Children Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, which is where Meggie attended undergrad. She and Danny were provided temporary residence at Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville, which is the same organization Meggie helped to fundraise for during her time at school.
On Thursday, May 5, William was airlifted to UF Health Shands Children Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, which is where Meggie attended undergrad. She and Danny were provided temporary residence at Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville, which is the same organization Meggie helped to fundraise for during her time at school.
On Tuesday, May 10, William underwent another open heart surgery with no complications. He remains in the PCICU at Shands Children’s Hospital.
Meggie and Danny recently shared that “William” means “strong-willed warrior.” In Meggie’s words, “It is so evident that God is writing William’s story and knew even before he was a thought in Danny and I’s mind that he would fulfill the name that was given to him in such a profound way.”
Meggie and Danny recently shared that “William” means “strong-willed warrior.” In Meggie’s words, “It is so evident that God is writing William’s story and knew even before he was a thought in Danny and I’s mind that he would fulfill the name that was given to him in such a profound way.”
Please continue to pray for William’s entire medical team as they care for William. Please pray for Meggie and Danny to rely fully on Jesus during this impossible time. Please pray for strength and healing for William, our little warrior.
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Organizer and beneficiary
Kendal Barker
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
Meggie Arbelaez
Beneficiary