31-Year-Old Woman From Chicago Suffers Stroke After Birthing Triplets And Goes Into Coma - Sheds Tears When Newborns Are Placed Onto Her By Doctor

Nov 14, 2019 by apost team

Kathryn Whitmer tragically died at the age of 31 on June 8, 2018. A death at such a young age is bad enough; in her case, she suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke late in pregnancy, gave birth to triplets, lapsed into a coma, and was declared brain dead. The father, Charlie, spent his first Father's day in the NICU with his three premature babies a day after their mother unexpectedly died.

The couple first met at a bar in 2013, began dating, fell in love, and got married in August 2016. Unfortunately, they had to cancel their honeymoon to Greece because Charlie developed aplastic anemia, a condition where the bone marrow stops producing blood cells. Aplastic anemia can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.

The couple decided to have children, but the drugs Charlie was taking for his condition meant they had to use fertility treatments. Kathryn gave Charlie the good news the day after Christmas in 2017-they were pregnant, and not with just one baby, with three!

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Multiple pregnancies are common after fertility treatment but doctors usually recommend embryo reduction to reduce the risk to the mother and increase the odds of a live full-term birth, but the couple decided to have all three babies and were delighted at the thought of being parents to triplets.

All went well until 27 weeks and 6 days into the pregnancy. Kathryn developed a severe headache and went to hospital. Charlie recalls being in the waiting room and having someone come out and say "Your wife has a big bleed in her brain". Strokes in young women are rare, but pregnancy substantially increases the risk of having a stroke.

Kathryn was treated and seemed to be stable until her water broke and the very premature babies had to be delivered by cesarian section. They were rushed to the NICU. Two days later Kathryn developed severe headaches and was declared near brain death. According to the Chicago Tribune, the babies were allowed to visit their comatose mother and doctors were surprised to see tears rolling down her face when it was time for the babies to return to the NICU.

“I can’t explain that medically,” said Dr. Kim, who was Kathryn's neurologist at the time told the outlet.

All three babies are doing well and are being raised by Charlie. They celebrate the very bittersweet anniversary of the babies' birth and Kathryn's death each year. Charlie recalls "She wasn’t happy unless the people around her were happy” so he and the children are doing their best to carry on with the task of being as happy as possible. Kathryn saved five strangers' lives through donated organs.

Have you ever heard of such an emotional scene with someone who was in a coma? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!