Unvaccinated mom died before meeting newborn she delivered while intubated

Another heartbreaking story about unvaccinated parents who died from COVID: a California couple both succumbed to the virus before they were able to meet their newborn, who was delivered while her mom was unconscious and intubated.

Davy Macias, who died at just 37 years old, was already terminally ill from COVID-19 complications when hospital staff assisted her in birthing her daughter, whom she never got to see.

Her husband, Daniel Macias, was also hospitalized with the virus while his daughter was being born. The Washington Post reports he was able to get a “quick glimpse” of his daughter before he, too, died not long after his wife. Davy herself was a labor and delivery nurse and Daniel was a middle school teacher.

Davy’s sister-in-law-, Terri Serey, tells the Post that the couple is also parents to four other children between the ages of two and seven. Davy was reportedly unvaccinated because she didn’t want to receive the vaccine while pregnant. It’s unknown whether her husband was vaccinated.

Davy Macias, 37, RN, died of #COVID19 on 8/26/21. She was pregnant with her 5th child (delivered 6w early.) Husband… https://t.co/ipeMAk6AMr

— Young and Severely Affected by Covid-19 (@SusanSchutte2)
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The Centers for Disease Control and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology both urge pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine amid the spike in positive cases due to the Delta variant. Recent research shows that the COVID-19 vaccine is effective for pregnant women while also being safe—studies show there’s no increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or birth defects as a result of immunization.

Unfortunately, vaccination rates among pregnant women remain low—according to CDC data, just 23% of pregnant women have received the vaccine.

This is just another tragic story in a string of similar tragedies with unvaccinated, pregnant mothers. Last month, an unvaccinated Texas couple died from COVID and left behind four children—the mother’s dying wish was for her children to receive the vaccine. Also in August, an unvaccinated Florida mom died from COVID days after delivering her own newborn. Another unvaccinated pregnant nurse and her unborn baby also died from COVID complications last month in Florida.

Serey tells the Post that the Macias children, who are under the care of their grandparents, do not fully grasp what happened to their mom and dad. She says they “spend a lot of time at night looking for mom and dad.”

Sadly, Davy was intubated and unable to directly communicate with her family by the time her baby was delivered via C-section on Aug. 18. Three days beforehand, Daniel had been intubated. Serey says he had “no idea” his wife had died before he, too, died from the virus.

Serey has organized a GoFundMe to help the Macias children and their family care for them.

“My family and I are asking for any financial aid to help with feeding, clothing and any upcoming expenses for their 5 children ages 7, 5, 3, 2 and a newborn,” she wrote. “100% of the donations will go to the Macias family.”

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