A family from Rutherglen in Scotland has been left "heartbroken" after a first-time mother tragically died during childbirth following what had been described as a "textbook" pregnancy.
"Amazing" Chelsea McGillivray, 31, passed away on Monday (August 24) after doctors tried "everything they could" to save her when her heart stopped while she was in labour.
Her family have described it as a "miracle" that Chelsea's baby Tommy survived after she suffered a sudden and unexplained cardiac event during labour, with loved ones saying that holding on long enough to save her newborn son was "the last thing she could do for him".
Family's heartbreak and fundraiser
Long-term partner and Tommy's father Jack Mitchell, 31, now faces the daunting task of raising their newborn alone, though those close to him say "he's a natural" when it comes to parenthood.
Chelsea's sister-in-law Lorna McGillivray, 33, described her as the "life and soul of every party", saying she had been eagerly looking forward to becoming a mother. She has since launched a GoFundMe page to support Jack and Tommy, which raised nearly £50,000 in just one day.
Lorna, who is married to Chelsea's brother Steven, told Glasgow Live: "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."
Sudden cardiac event during labour
Chelsea had displayed no signs of any underlying health concerns throughout her pregnancy, according to Lorna, and had been preparing herself on the ward at the Queen Elizabeth hospital to give birth to baby Tommy when she "crashed suddenly".
Lorna said: "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."
Miracle baby survives
Lorna believes Chelsea's body "held on" long enough to save her son Tommy in what would be her final act before she died.
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."
Tommy was taken to the NICU and returned home from hospital on Wednesday, which Lorna described as "bittersweet".
The grieving sister-in-law explained that the cause of Chelsea's death remains unconfirmed, adding: "We know her heart stopped but we don't know why."
"She was completely healthy as far as everyone was concerned."
Family support and remembering Chelsea
Beyond being the "life of the party", Lorna adds that "glamourous" Chelsea was a passionate football supporter who loved watching Rangers play at Ibrox, and that she shared a particularly close bond with her parents and wider family. She also described Chelsea as having "the most infectious laugh".
Following her sudden passing, Chelsea's nearest and dearest have "rallied round" her partner Jack to support him as he navigates parenthood on his own.
Lorna said: "He's obviously grieving, but at the same time trying to learn how to be a dad. But he's a natural - he won't say that himself but he is. It's bittersweet."
"But he's got a great support around him, and we're all there for him."
"They planned this for nine months- he knows exactly what Chelsea would've wanted."
"He's strong and he's really doing her proud."
Looking ahead to 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."
