A California woman died after agreeing to undergo an emergency C-section to save her daughter.
Calling the daughter a “miracle baby,” the family of Charlene Flores said she died on Oct. 24 after the premature birth.
“Before leaving she left us a parting gift of her everlasting love for us through her and her husband’s miracle baby,” the family wrote on GoFundMe.
Flores was in intense pain from contractions and went to the hospital, where doctors told her that if she wanted to save her baby, she’d have to have an emergency C-section.
She had a history of heart problems but authorized the risky procedure, her husband Elesandro Flores told ABC.
“So the doctors come back to me in the room saying your baby’s being worked on, your wife’s asleep. And then (I) heard ‘code blue.’ This lady comes to our door area and says, ‘We need you, doctor,’ and the doctor rushes back there,” he said.
“And then 20 minutes later, the rest of the doctors and nurses flow in the room and tell me that my wife didn’t make it but my daughter’s in an incubator getting her treatment.”
Mom dies after giving premature birth to save daughter https://t.co/5f1nhiFmm2 pic.twitter.com/k4ML9TBXiz
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) October 29, 2018
Charlene Flores was 27.
Her baby Quinn survived and is receiving care in the neonatal ICU, where she’s expected to stay for another month or so. Elesandro Flores said that his daughter is getting better every day. He now has four daughters.
In pictures shared on Facebook, the father is seen cradling the newborn, who is attached to an oxygen machine.
‘Gone to a Better Place’
The family asked for help with funeral expenses through the GoFundMe, a fundraiser on the popular website. They said Charlene Flores was “a beloved mother, wife, daughter, relative, and friend.”
On Facebook, Elesandro Flores said that his wife will forever be in his heart.
“My wife has gone to a better place. … But will forever have my heart I thank you for Quinn and all the great memories we shared with our daughter’s, family’s & Friend’s [sic],” he wrote.
“You helped me become a better man & father in life and for that you will be in my life for eternity till the day we meet again rest easy my love I’ll see you on the other side. I love you,” he added.
