There was a time when he couldn’t live, now this young man focuses on bringing joy to others.
By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org
As he walked through the lobby of IU Health University Hospital, William Waldrop was assisted by physiotherapist Eric Anderson and nurse Lydia Stone.
At one point Waldrop’s parents were told he wouldn’t be able to walk. And now he’s not just walking in hospital corridors; he walked across the stage to receive his diploma.
His family adopted the phrase: “They say you won’t; We think you can. You showed them that you can do it.”
Waldrop was born 23 weeks premature, weighing 1.8 ounces. He was given less than 10 percent chance of survival. His twin lived eight days. Both boys were born with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening disease with a 50% mortality rate. NEC is an inflammatory bowel condition that can damage the colon and small intestine. He also suffered a perforated stomach and kidney failure.
“He almost died on his first birthday. He has 22 pumps running at the same time,” said his mother, Rustena Waldoup, New Palestine, Ind. William celebrated his second birthday and was diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and chronic lung disease. His parents, David, also knew that William was severely deaf.
At the age of 7, William received his first transplant – intestines and kidneys. It was August 2009. “He was doing pretty well until he was diagnosed with liver disease,” said his mother. On December 17, 2022, William received a second transplant – liver, pancreas, intestines and stomach.
He received transplant care by Dr Richard Mangus and a team of clinicians at IU Health. Since December 2022, he has been to the hospital several times – for pneumonia, atelectasis and other complications. In total, he underwent six surgeries in two weeks. “Since December, he has only been home for five days,” his mother said.
Those hospital visits connected William with other nurses and patients. They mentioned his name and smiled. He is known to bring candy, lotion, and other gifts to other people on the floor.
“William is a human being. He loves visiting people at the hospital and considers patients and nurses his friends,” says Rustena Waldroup. He turns 21 on June 22 and has invited everyone he meets to a party planned for next month.
He is also an uncle. His brother has two children. “William loves being an uncle. His niece is his pride and joy,” his mother said. He also loves music – especially “AC/DC” and “Imagine Dragons.”
When William graduated with a certificate of completion from the Indiana School for the Deaf, his family created a “thank you board” to express their gratitude to others. Rustena Waldoup said: “We know he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for God’s help with his doctors and nurses.
His mother said: “We say that every day is a borrowed day. “We have had almost 21 years of borrowing. We believe William is here to cheer others up. He is one of the loveliest people you will ever meet. He’s very personable and that draws people to him.”
