Within 24 hours, William went from being a playful and active 19-month-old to fighting for his life.
When he suddenly became sluggish and started having trouble breathing in June 2024, his parents, Alison and Leslie, thought it was because of the intense heat wave their city was experiencing. For peace of mind, Leslie took him to their local hospital in New Brunswick to have him assessed. They never expected that would become the best decision they’ve ever made.
Soon after arriving at the hospital, William’s health took a serious turn for the worse. His heart was failing, and he needed to be airlifted to the IWK for emergency and specialized care. Alison joined William on the LifeFlight to the IWK, while Leslie returned home to care for their four-year-old daughter, Lily.
When William arrived at the IWK, he was quickly transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and placed on life support.
Sadly, William’s condition continued to worsen. His kidneys began to fail, his lungs collapsed, and he suffered a neurological event that affected his brain. Alison didn’t know if he was going to survive, and she was truly terrified.
“I was shocked at how quickly my son became critically ill,” says Alison.
Because Willliam was so sick, many IWK specialists came together to care for him. From nephrology to immunology to rheumatology to infectious disease to cardiology, William was getting the specialized care the IWK is known for.
Thanks to the IWK’s incredible care teams, Alison and Leslie learned that William had developed a rare and serious condition called MIS-C. It causes inflammation in several parts of the body, such as the heart, lungs, and brain. It can also cause lasting organ damage.
William needed blood transfusions, multiple medications and specialized equipment to survive, such as a ventilator to help him breathe. He also needed to receive dialysis for 23 days to keep his kidneys working.
After 50 days at the IWK, William finally returned home with his loving family. Since his life-threatening diagnosis, the progress William has made has been incredible. He has regained some of his lost milestones, including crawling, talking, and eating without a feeding tube. He’s currently working hard towards regaining his full mobility.
Because MIS-C can have a lasting impact, close observation and follow-up are needed, which will be done at the IWK.
When Alison reflects on why people should support the IWK, she thoughtfully says, “Every cent will be used in the best possible way to help the smartest minds in the world save the lives of children.” And she knows this firsthand because the IWK saved her sweet little boy.
Tune into the IWK Telethon for Children broadcast on CTV on Sunday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to meet William and his family. They’ll share their heartfelt gratitude for the IWK and those who donate to support its life-saving care.
