Pregnant First-Time Mum and Newborn Baby Tragically Die Hours Apart
A pregnant first-time mother and her newborn baby have died just hours apart in a heartbreaking tragedy that has left their family devastated. Mellodie-Ocean Jarman, 19, had been feeling faint and dizzy on her way to a routine pregnancy scan on January 31, according to PEOPLE. After her scan, a doctor informed Mellodie that she was “low on iron” and prescribed her medication and antibiotics.
The following day, back home in Atherton, Greater Manchester, Mellodie began to experience difficulty breathing and struggling with her vision. Family members rushed her to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where paramedics performed CPR in a desperate attempt to revive her. Once at the hospital, an emergency C-section was performed, and Mellodie gave birth to baby Athena-Pearl, seven weeks premature, in the early hours of February 2. Tragically, Mellodie passed away about an hour after the operation, and the family was told that baby Athena-Pearl would not survive, reported by the Mirror.
Heartbroken uncle Steven Darby, 32, recalled receiving a call saying that Athena-Pearl was deteriorating and needed to be moved quickly. “We made our way back up to the suite and we proceeded to speak to the priest and have a baptism,” Steven explained. “Then it was planned for Athena to be placed on a portable machine so she can walk down and transfer to the mortuary, where she was placed in Mellodie’s arms and her life support was switched off.”
Devastated partner Daniel Darbyshire, 18, pushed the infant’s pushchair back to the neonatal ward, where they spent a final few moments together before Athena-Pearl passed away at just before 6:30 pm. “He doesn’t know what to do with himself, which is understandable in these situations – he’s lost everything,” Steven said. “Everything he’s planned, everything he’s wanted to do seems worse at the minute. We’re supporting him the best we can.”
Now, the family faces the financial burden of funeral costs, prompting the creation of a GoFundMe page. In a message on the page, Steven wrote: “After what felt like an eternity of anguish, we were given the gut-wrenching gift of placing Mellodie’s daughter in her arms as the machines fell silent. Together, they fell into an eternal sleep, bound by an unbreakable bond of love that transcends all.”
Mellodie’s mother, Justine Ryan, 52, described her daughter as “sassy” and full of personality. “She was a sassy, upfront person who always said it how it is,” she said. “She knew what she wanted in life and always found the banter and funny side in things. She was a real character.”
The family is awaiting the results of an investigation into the cause of Mellodie’s sudden deterioration. “She was a healthy 19-year-old with no health complications, so we just can’t comprehend what has happened,” Steven said. He expressed gratitude to the hospital staff, noting that despite the traumatic events, the medical team did everything they could to support the family.