Unvaccinated mum of six, 27, dies from Covid after giving birth to son
A 27-year-old mum of six has died from Covid after falling ill while 24 weeks' pregnant.
Crystal Hernandez, from Pasadena in the US state of Texas, and her husband, Rico, tested positive for the virus on New Year’s Day.
The mum’s condition quickly deteriorated and “at night would feel like she was dying because she couldn’t breathe”, a family friend wrote on a GoFundMe for the Hernandez family.
On January 4, Ms Hernandez was rushed to hospital, where doctors learned she had low oxygen levels and Covid pneumonia.
Days later, she was flown to another facility and underwent an emergency C-section, delivering her son, Koda, at only 25 weeks.
Koda tested negative for Covid, Mr Hernandez told local publication KTRK.
Despite showing signs of improvement after the birth, Ms Hernandez died on January 16.
"I wish I would have hugged her tighter and held her longer before I let her walk through those sliding doors," her husband told the publication.
"We didn't get to see her until she was close," he said.
Mr Hernandez said neither he or his wife were vaccinated against the virus because of their religious beliefs.
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"Me and my wife, we talked about it, she was pregnant and so she had some concerns," he said.
"It all happened so fast."
The dad of six said he and his wife were high school sweethearts and described her as "very loving" and "goofy".
Mr Hernandez said he decided to speak out after his wife’s death because his eldest daughter wanted people to know who her mum was.
"I tell my babies to be proud of their mum because she was very strong. She fought to the very end," Mr Hernandez said.
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