Pregnant woman dies in an accident on her way to the hospital to give birth to her child

On May 11th, a pregnant 26 year old woman Sarah Iler of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, who was one day past her due date and was already dilated was driving to the hospital with her estranged husband, 34 year old Matt Rider on Wednesday morning to have her baby. The couple had been estranged for awhile, but had recently reconciled and were excited to meet their first child together, a baby girl.

However, on their way to the hospital at about 8:04am, a tanker truck crashed into a Nissan SUV, which in turn hit the couple's vehicle, a Blazer. The couple's Blazer overturned and threw them out of the vehicle instantly killing Iler. Knowing the mother was dead, emergency personnel performed CPR to give the baby girl, Maddyson, a chance to live.
Iler was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center, where an emergency cesarean section was performed on her. Her daughter, Maddyson was born 4 pounds and 15 ounces and was immediately put on a ventilator, Kasandra Iler, Sandra's sister said. The baby was small enough that she needed special treatment.

Fortunately, by Friday afternoon, Maddyson opened her eyes and grabbed a nurse's hand after she was taken off the ventilator. It is not certain whether the child suffered any brain damage due to a lack of oxygen within the time her mum died.

Kassandra Iler said:

“The thought never once entered my head that that baby might die”. “I felt my sister gave her life to save this baby. That’s how God wanted it. We’ve been calling her our little miracle.”

  A gofund me account was created to help raise money for Sarah Iler's funeral because she didn't have Life insurance before she died.


Source: Southeast Missourian/Sarah Iler's Gofundme account