Healthy Baby Girl Born 23 Weeks after Mother Declared Brain-Dead

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Jul 16, 2014

Healthy Baby Girl Born 23 Weeks after Mother Declared Brain-Dead

A baby in Alaska defied science when she was born healthy at 35 weeks to a brain-dead woman. It was previously believed that babies could not be carried to term if a mother with no brain activity was in the early stages of pregnancy. 

Jessie Avagalria, 29, suffered a heart attack and seizure in January; doctors discovered Avagalria was 12 weeks pregnant at the time. The mother was declared brain-dead, but the family decided to put Avagalria on life support to preserve the life of the child. The family also signed a DNR so that Avagalria would not suffer. 

The baby, named Faith, was delivered by C-section 23 weeks after her mother was declared brain-dead. She is in the care of family. Avagalria, unfortunately, never regained brain activity reports Fox 23.  

Publication date: July 16, 2014



Healthy Baby Girl Born 23 Weeks after Mother Declared Brain-Dead