We’re proud to share one of our amazing Hope for HIE kids, William, has been named as a 2026 Champion for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children!
After 41 long weeks of anticipation, Brigid and John were overjoyed to finally meet their baby boy. But William’s arrival was anything but routine. Born via emergency C-section at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, doctors quickly discovered William’s umbilical cord had wrapped around his neck three times.
A swift and skilled team sprang into action, intubating and resuscitating William as his parents waited anxiously for updates. He had been without oxygen or a heartbeat for approximately 15 minutes. When John finally saw his son, he was pale, still and silent, but he opened his eyes for the first time. In the hours that followed, doctors diagnosed William with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury caused by the lack of oxygen at birth.
William was taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and placed on life-saving support. Weighing in at 8½ pounds and 23 inches, he stood out among his smaller NICU neighbors. For three days, he was kept in a cooling suit to protect his brain and organs. An EEG soon revealed he was experiencing seizures, and an MRI confirmed some brain cell damage.
Today, William is a thoughtful 8-year-old who loves all things Pokémon, enjoys swimming, and is an avid performer.
Throughout the year, William and his family – parents, Brigid and John, and little sister, Lottie – will represent the thousands of patients treated at our hospital each year.
Brigid has been serving on the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children's NICU Advisory Board for several years, ensuring HIE and other full-term family perspectives are included and supported. She also volunteers with Hope for HIE and has shared her advocacy journey in a recent Peer Perspective Series video on our YouTube Channel.
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