Kristen McMullen of West Melbourne, Fla., was only able to spend a few brief moments with her baby girl, Summer Reign, before she died of COVID-19 last week.
“I was hoping I would wake up and the nightmare would be over,” said McMullen’s aunt Melissa Syverson, who set up a GoFundMe page to help her niece’s widower cover medical expenses.
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According to Syverson, 30-year-old McMullen and her husband Keith had been trying to have a baby for several years before she became pregnant with Summer. With about five weeks left before her due date, McMullen’s family celebrated with a baby shower.
Then, around two weeks later, McMullen began to develop COVID-19 symptoms and soon ended up in the hospital, where she tested positive for the virus as well as related pneumonia. She spent four days in the hospital and was sent home with antibiotics, said Syverson.
Less than 48 hours later McMullen was readmitted to the hospital when she had difficulty breathing.
“Her husband Keith wasn't allowed to enter the hospital at the time and a few short hours later received a heart wrenching call that he needed to come to the hospital ASAP due to baby and mama not doing well,” said Syverson. “I can only imagine what was running through his mind at the time.”
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By July 27, McMullen gave birth to Summer via an emergency C-section, reported USA Today. She held her daughter for photos – some with her mask on and some with it off – for a few minutes before being transferred to the ICU.
While in the ICU, McMullen was on 100 percent oxygen with an additional CPAP machine. Communication with her family was cut off due to McMullen’s condition. After a week in intensive care, she succumbed to the disease.
“We would get random texts from Kristen saying that things weren't good, and she loved us. She had a few phone calls, but literally she only had enough strength just to say, ‘I love you,’ to Keith and Summer,” her aunt said, according to USA Today.
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“Yesterday, Kristen took her last breath. A 30-year-old bright, beautiful, vivacious girl with the world ahead of her,” wrote Syverson in an Aug. 7 GoFundMe update. Her family remembers McMullen as someone who loved fun, board games and spending time with her loved ones.
During his wife’s illness, Keith McMullen took on a second job to cover her medical expenses as well as the couple’s monthly bills. His wife was not able to receive any compensation while hospitalized, said Syverson.
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As of Thursday, $40,056 had been raised towards a $100,000 GoFundMe goal.
McMullen’s death comes with an ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases nationwide. While fully vaccinated individuals can get breakthrough infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still say vaccines are the best way to prevent severe or life-threatening infections.
According to USA Today, McMullen’s family has not revealed her vaccination status.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy here: