Having been told she would be unable to bear children as a result of suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Karla Perez defied the odds and gave birth to a little girl three years ago without encountering any problems.

Spurred on by this and determined to add to her family, 22-year-old Karla decided to try for another child with her partner, but after falling pregnant the young woman suffered a brain haemorrhage 22 weeks into her pregnancy.

Determined to keep Karla’s unborn child alive within the womb, the medical staff at Methodist Health System in Nebraska put Karla on life support until they could deliver her son via Caesearean section two months after her collapse.

A healthy baby boy named Angel was born to the young woman, but his safe arrival signalled Karla’s official demise.
 


Opening up about the devastating turn of events, the hospital said: “Angel’s first cry was bittersweet.  It meant he was alive, but Karla was gone.”

Since 1982, there has been only 33 recorded cases in which brain-dead women have bore healthy children, with the vice president of Methodist Women’s Hospital, saying:  “Our team took a giant leap of faith.”

Our thoughts go out to Karla's friends and family.

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