NEED TO KNOW
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Estee Williams announced the death of her 8-month-old daughter, Estelle, in an Instagram Stories post on Saturday, May 30
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The influencer told PEOPLE that Estelle, who was born with a congenital heart defect, died from multiple organ failure
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Estelle had been on the heart transplant list but was removed twice due to complications with her other organs weeks before her death
Influencer Estee Williams is mourning the death of her 8-month-old daughter, Estelle.
The content creator, 29, announced Estelle’s death on her Instagram Stories on Saturday, May 30, alongside a photo cradling her baby girl at home.
“Until we meet again, my sweet Estelle,” she wrote over the photo, adding an angel wings emoji.
Williams confirmed to PEOPLE that her daughter Estelle — who was born with the congenital heart defect ventricular septal defect (VSD) — died from multiple organ failure, having spent months hooked to hospital machines.
Estee Williams announced the death of her daughter Estelle on May 30
Credit: esteecwilliams/Instagram
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Williams and her husband, Conner, welcomed their daughter, Estelle, on Sept. 5, 2025. The infant was diagnosed with VSD two days after birth.
According to Mayo Clinic, VSD is a common heart problem present at birth. Small defects can close naturally, causing the infant no problems. However, infants with larger VSD can require surgery to prevent complications.
Since November, Estelle has been hospitalized in pediatric intensive care.
Conner’s mother, Holly Nielsen, wrote on a defunct GoFundMe page that Estelle underwent an “extremely difficult and delicate open-heart surgery at just 11 weeks old,” due to her VSD diagnosis.
After going into cardiac arrest in December 2025, Estelle was put on life support. Medics determined that she could not leave the hospital until she got a heart transplant.
On Dec. 13, Nielsen updated the GoFundMe to share that her granddaughter had undergone another open-heart surgery, which was deemed a success, and she had been discharged from the hospital.
On Dec. 31, Williams reported that Estelle was Status 1A for a heart transplant, meaning she was considered most critically in need and at the top of the waitlist.
Williams previously told PEOPLE that Estelle’s heart was “well beyond what is considered large.”
Estee Williams and husband Conner Williams
Credit: Estee Williams/Instagram
In April, Estelle was removed from the top of the transplant list due to complications. She returned to the top of the list after her condition improved, before being taken off again.
“It was a bummer since we were at the top of the list in the Northeast. It’s okay though because we are trusting God’s timing,” Williams wrote on her Instagram Stories on April 19. “Her team is clearing her other organs one by one for heart transplant eligibility after the hit they took a couple of weeks ago, we’ll get there!”
The mom then shared in a heartbreaking update on May 13 that Estelle had been removed from the heart transplant list for a second time.
“This week has been extremely tough,” she wrote on Instagram Stories. “Estelle is once again ineligible for a heart transplant.”
Read the original article on People
