Meet William!
Summer has come and gone and William is enjoying the Holiday season. He loves Halloween and enjoyed carving pumpkins and trick or treating with his Dad. William and his entire family have so much to be thankful for this year. William was ill in the summer but is feeling much better now. He continues to have challenges but he never loses his sense of humor and always has a smile for everyone.
William is enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin weather as we move from spring into summer 2022. He fought a virus this spring but was able to be home in time for Easter. As stated previously, William loves life. He loves the character in “Cat in the Hat”. He is an avid soccer fan who enjoys wearing his Messi shirt frequently. William loves to sing.
This boy is full of humor, energy and love. William began life in Germany 7 years ago where his 14 week ultrasound showed no functioning kidneys and low amniotic fluid. The prognosis was bleak, but we persevered through in-utero surgery and other treatments and many months in the NICU after birth.
Miraculously, William made it through many close calls and long hospital stays and after years of struggles with daily peritoneal dialysis, William finally received his kidney transplant last summer, 2021. After recovering from a serious episode of rejection a week after transplant, he continues to do very well. He is in first grade at Zielanis Elementary in Kiel, Wisconsin and brings joy to everyone he meets. He loves playing soccer with his siblings and wrestling.
We were finally given an overarching diagnosis in the past year. The root cause of his condition is a rare disorder called Prune Belly Syndrome. The disorder causes malformation of the urinary tract and abdominal muscles. Due to the syndrome, William did not develop a bladder. His kidney transplant left him with a kidney and a urostomy which continually drains urine into diapers and pads throughout the day and night. He will need another surgery in the next year or so to create an artificial bladder that he can drain manually.
Through everything, this amazing little fighter has maintained a wonderful disposition and absolutely loves life. We have come a long way, but the future is uncertain. His father was able to give him a kidney but there is no guarantee how long it will last or where the next one may come from. There are no guarantees that he won’t have complications or that other issues may arise. He is mentally delayed from the stress of his first years, requires special care, and there is no way to know to what extent he will develop mentally. Though most of his needs are met right now, this uncertainty led us to team with COTA for assistance with transplant-related expenses to provide some security for William’s future. Funds raised for COTA for William’s Fight will assist with transplant-related expenses like medical copays and deductibles, clinic visits, and more. COTA will remain at the ready to assist for his lifetime. Thank you for your generous donation to COTA in honor of William. Please comment below with words of support or a quick note on how William has affected your life
A note from COTA:
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
