A Canadian man has to say goodbye to his brain-dead wife just one day after he welcomed his newborn son into the world.
"Dylan Benson's wife, Robyn, was declared brain dead back in December. She was just 22 weeks pregnant at the time, but doctors were able to keep her body functioning just long enough so that her baby could keep growing." (Via WTTE)
And Saturday, doctors delivered the couple's newborn son, Iver. A hospital spokesperson told CNN the baby is currently in a neonatal intensive care unit and could be there for eight more weeks.
Benson wrote on his Facebook page that little Iver is doing well — healthy and pretty darn cute to boot. But he's still trying to cope with the loss of his beloved wife.
"It's the best thing that's happened to me as far as having him here, and obviously there's nothing worse than losing your partner." (Via CBC)
Robyn Benson was declared brain-dead just a few hours after she told her husband she had a "terrible, terrible headache" and sent him out to get some Tylenol. (Via WVNY)
When Dylan got home, he says, Robyn was unresponsive but still breathing. An ambulance rushed her to the hospital where doctors found she had suffered a brain hemorrhage. She was 22 weeks pregnant.
But doctors told Dylan they could keep his wife alive until their baby was ready to be born via a cesarean section. And that day came Saturday at 7:12 p.m., reports The Vancouver Sun.
Dylan said he hoped Robyn could be kept on a ventilator for a few more weeks after Iver's birth. But just hours after the surgery, doctors took her off life support, and she died. (Via CTV)
Benson is still trying to cope with the idea of raising his son without his wife, but he has lots of support pouring in from all over the world from those who have heard his heartbreaking story.
A fundraiser started on YouCaring.com for the new dad quickly surpassed its goal of $36,000. As of Wednesday morning, people had donated more than $180,000 to help Dylan with Iver's expenses.
Dylan says, even though Iver was born at a tiny two pounds, 13 ounces, he's doing very well. And he even has a little bit of red hair already, just like his mom's.
