Chelsea McGillivray, 31, died during childbirth after suffering a sudden cardiac event while in labour at a hospital in Scotland – but her baby Tommy survived
A donation page set up by a “heartbroken” family has raised an incredible £115,000 for a new born baby after his mum died during childbirth.
Chelsea McGillivray, 31, tragically passed away back in August after her heart stopped in labour, despite doctors doing “everything they could” to save her during what was a supposedly routine pregnancy.
The first-time mum was described as heroically clinging onto life long enough to save her new born son Tommy, with Chelsea’s sister-in-law Lorna, 33, describing it as “the last thing she could do for him”. Speaking to Glasgow Live, Lorna described her sister as the “life and soul of every party”, adding that she was desperate to become a mum.
“I’ve never seen a mum that had everything so organised. As soon as she found out she was pregnant it was like she had found her purpose.
“She was the best auntie to my two boys, so I know what kind of mum she would’ve been.”
Chelsea had displayed no signs of any health problems during her pregnancy, Lorna says, and she had been preparing on the hospital ward at the Queen Elizabeth in Rutherglen, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland to give birth to baby Tommy when she “crashed suddenly”.
Lorna shared: “She got to the labour suite at around 8.30am and Tommy was born at 8.39am. So all of this transpired in nine minutes. They [c-] sectioned her and got him out, and then they started CPR. They worked on her for hours, and they had consultants and specialists from all over the Queen Elizabeth and the Jubilee.
“But they just couldn’t get her back. She was here one minute talking away, and not the next.”
Lorna believes that Chelsea’s body “held on” long enough to ensure her son Tommy’s survival in her final act before she passed.
She said: “It’s a miracle that Tommy’s here. I’ve spoken to some doctors and consultants, and this happening alone is extremely rare, but for the baby to survive is even rarer.
“I like to think her body held on long enough just to get him here safely. But obviously she never got to meet him. All she wanted was her wee baby, and he’s here and he’s healthy. And that’s the last thing she could do for him.”
Speaking about baby Tommy’s future, Lorna added: “None of us will ever let him forget his mummy. She got him here safely, it was the last thing she could do for him. He’s our wee miracle and he’s going to be absolutely spoiled rotten.”
A GoFundMe page set up by Lorna has already raised a remarkable £115,000, just £5000 short of its intended goal.
A post on the page read: “We are raising money for my nephew baby Tommy and his dad, Jack, following the heart-breaking and unexpected loss of Chelsea, Tommy’s mummy and Jack’s partner.
“There are no words to describe what Jack and everyone who loves her are going through right now. In the middle of unimaginable grief, Jack is also facing the reality of raising their beautiful little boy without his partner by his side.
“We have set up this fundraiser to try to take away some of the financial pressure that comes with everything they are now facing. We want Jack to be able to focus on Tommy, on grieving, and on getting through each day without having to worry about how he is going to manage financially.
“Any money raised will go directly towards helping Jack and Tommy with the costs and expenses that come with this devastating loss, both now and in the months ahead.
“If you are able to donate, no matter how much, it would mean more than we can put into words. And if you aren’t in a position to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser would mean so much to us. Thank you for helping us surround Jack and baby Tommy with some love and support during the darkest time of their lives.