A mother never got to see her newborn daughter because she died from meningitis just 24 hours after her birth.
Wendy Moss, 38, had been complaining of flu-like symptoms to her husband Matthew.
She was rushed to hospital after he then found her collapsed at their home in Borrowash, Derbyshire.
Wendy died at the Royal Derby Hospital from meningitis just 24 hours after she underwent an emergency caesarean. her daughter Isla is doing well
Doctors performed an emergency caesarean on Wendy, who was seven months pregnant, to give her child a chance of life.
Isla was delivered seven weeks early at the Royal Derby Hospital, weighing only 4lb 4oz. mrs Moss died the next day on February 1.
Matthew, 30, said: ‘I didn’t know who needed me the most when we were in hospital.
‘I wanted to be with Wendy but at the same time we’d just had a baby girl. I went to see Isla and she was ok.
‘Then I came back to sit with Wendy. I knew the situation was extremely serious even before anyone told me.
‘I am truly heartbroken. Wendy never got to see Isla. she was very, very ill when we arrived at hospital.
‘I don’t know how I’m going to cope without her.’
Now, after two weeks in intensive care, Isla is recovering in hospital while her family mourn the loss of her mother.
Matthew, 30, is now bringing up Isla and the couple’s son, Archie, aged 21 months on his own.
‘My daughter is lovely,’ said Matthew, who is visiting her every day in hospital.
‘She’s feeding well.’
But he added: ‘The children will never know that they had the best mum in the world.’
Wendy’s family agreed to donate some of her vital organs and already know that her pancreas and a kidney have been used in a life-saving transplant.
Matthew, who lost the lower part of leg in an accident in 2001, said his wife had been very ill over Christmas and thought she’d got a serious bout of flu.
He said: ‘I was worried about her but she was just upset because she felt guilty about not being able to do family things on the weekends like going to the park with our young son, Archie.
‘I remember she cried because she felt so bad.
‘On the day she was rushed to hospital, I’d taken her to see the doctor in the morning. she was extremely unwell and I drove her home.
‘I left her for a while so I could go and get the prescription from the chemist.”Then I went to work for a while. when I came back a couple of hours later, I found her lying on the floor in the bedroom.’
Matthew, an accounts office manager, dialled 999 and a rapid-response car arrived at their home.
Wendy, an administration officer, was immediately taken to hospital as her condition deteriorated.
‘I didn’t know this at the time, but her heart had stopped beating in the ambulance,’ said Matthew.
‘When I arrived at the hospital she was wired to all kinds of machines and a dozen doctors were crowded round the bed.’
One hour after Wendy had been rushed to hospital, baby Isla was delivered by emergency Caesarean section.
‘Isla was rushed to the intensive care in the neonatal unit and was immediately hooked up to a ventilator,’ said Matthew.
‘It was during this time that we discovered doctors thought Wendy had suffered a massive trauma to the brain.
‘She was in intensive care and was attached to a life-support machine. she was given antibiotics and was taken for a scan where it was revealed she had meningitis.
‘The medical team who looked after Wendy were so fantastic. we want to thank them.’
The couple knew they were having a girl and were delighted with the news.they already had a son, 21-month-old Archie.
‘Wendy was thrilled to be having a daughter,’ said Matthew.
‘We discussed names and had decided to call her Isla. We’re going to give her Wendy’s name as a middle name now. we think that would be nice.’
Matthew said Isla now looks like his son Archie did when he was first born.
‘She’s been taken off her ventilator and is out of her incubator. She’s just in a normal cot.
‘At first the nurses were unsure when she’d be able to come home, but they are really pleased with her,’ said Matthew.
‘There is some talk that she might be out in around two weeks.
‘Her room is ready for her. Wendy had started buying a few things for a baby and the nursery was done. Wendy was always so organised.
‘I’m just honoured to have known Wendy. she was my best friend. she has two lovely children. we shared some amazing times together.’
The couple met when they worked together at a double glazing firm and married in 2009.
Matthew said: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be as good a parent as Wendy, but I’m going to try.’