Tradwife influencer Estee Williams opened up to her followers on Christmas Eve with an emotional post about her infant daughter, asking for prayers and support during an incredibly difficult time.
Williams, who has over 300,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, shared a hospital photo showing her three-month-old daughter’s tiny legs connected to a life-support machine.
In the caption, she revealed the devastating news: her baby had suffered cardiac arrest in the middle of the night.
“My little Estelle went into cardiac arrest in the middle of the night,” she wrote.
“Chest compressions were done for 47 minutes and she’s now on full life support (ECMO).
Please keep my sweet girl in your prayers.
This next week is a scary time as we see what her next option will be.”
A Challenging Start to Life
Estelle entered the world on September 5, welcomed by Estee and her husband, Conner.
But within hours, doctors noticed a heart murmur, and the newborn failed two oxygen tests, requiring five days in the NICU.
Her grandmother, Holly Nielsen, launched an online fundraiser and shared details of the baby’s diagnosis.
“During that time, doctors discovered something no parent is ever prepared to hear,” Nielsen explained.
Estelle had two ventricular septal defects (VSDs)—holes in the walls of her heart.
Even after leaving the NICU, the early weeks were filled with constant monitoring.
Weekly cardiology visits and echocardiograms became part of life, while medications like Lasix and potassium were introduced to help the baby’s heart and lungs keep up with the demands of her tiny body.
Feeding Struggles and Early Symptoms
Estelle struggled with breastfeeding and required fortified bottles of breast milk to gain essential calories.
She would gain a little weight only to lose it again, while fatigue and a persistent cough signaled that her heart and lungs were under serious strain.
Nielsen shared these details to raise awareness.
“We hope that by sharing her story, we can help others recognize these signs early.
Congenital heart defects like VSDs aren’t always seen on ultrasound.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, small VSDs can sometimes close naturally, but larger ones often require surgical intervention.
Open-Heart Surgery at Just Two Months Old
On November 20, Estelle underwent her first open-heart surgery.
Surgeons discovered that the upper VSD was extremely large and rare, while the lower hole, though smaller, was challenging to reach.
Surgeons had to carefully cut into her heart to place a patch over the largest defect, spending nearly four hours on a heart-lung bypass machine.
Following surgery, Estelle remained in the PICU on a breathing tube and a pacemaker due to ongoing oxygen and heart rhythm issues.
By December 13, she required a second surgery, after which she was finally able to be held by her parents for the first time.
Facing New Complications and Possible Transplant
Despite moments of progress, Estelle’s condition took another turn.
Her grandmother explained that dangerous spikes in her lactose levels caused doctors to perform CPR after the baby suddenly turned blue.
Oxygen levels dropped multiple times, but fortunately, ultrasounds showed no brain bleed, and EEG results indicated normal brain activity.
“The next few days are incredibly critical,” Nielsen wrote.
Doctors are now evaluating whether Estelle can transition to ventricular assist devices to test her lungs’ independence.
If successful, she could be placed on the heart transplant list, which may take three to six months.
Family Seeks Support and Prayers
As Conner takes time off work to care for Estelle, the family has asked for donations to help cover medical costs and lost wages.
By Thursday, their online fundraiser had raised nearly $22,000.
Through this difficult journey, Estee and Conner continue to rely on prayers, support, and the hope for a medical miracle for their daughter.
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