Community Helps Raise Money For Single Father After Coma

ISLIP, NY - The local community came together to help a single father of three from Islip who is currently in the hospital after suffering from heart failure.

William McLoughlin was in a coma last month and told he will need a heart transplant.

Unfortunately, he was told he was not a candidate so the next course of action is a Ventricular Assist Device. His family is hoping he can have the surgery at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset this week or early next week.

In the meantime, McLoughlin's aunt, Jane O'Brien, recently started a campaign on GoFundMe to help raise $15,000.

According to the page, this is the "third tragedy" McLoughlin and his three sons, 20-year-old William, 19-year-old Theodore and 13-year-old Jack, has faced in the past 7 years.

A neighbor told Patch that the boys' mother died 6 years ago and one of the kids battled cancer.

Photo: GoFundMe.com/Billy's Boys

In addition, McLoughlin is a small business owner and is therefore not eligible for disability.

The father has been in the hospital for the past month. Last week, O'Brien wrote on the page last week that he is conscious, off the breathing tube, being assessed for physical therapy and moving toward having his liquid diet replaced with more substantial nutrition.

"We are moving forward," she wrote. "At this point, the ultimate goal is for Billy to be healthy enough to receive something called an LVAD which will assist his heart function."

Luckily, the community came through and exceeded the goal on GoFundMe raising a total of $19,173 to help the family.

To read more or to donate, visit the GoFundMe page here.