Being able to have children is a wonderful blessing that many people are lucky to experience in their lives.
However, not everyone’s pregnancy journey is a blissful one.
In the most unfortunate of circumstances, birthing your children can sometimes lead to the loss of your own life.
The rates of maternal passing while, or immediately after, giving birth are surprisingly high.
And those women who have a caesarian section are 3 times more likely to pass away than those who give birth vaginally.
This was the case for one mother, 35-year-old Nikita Washington passed away following the C-section of her 12th child.
Nikita had her son, Nathanial, in early December of 2022 and she passed away shortly after the procedure from what the hospital called “postpartum hemorrhage”.
She was alone in the hospital when it happened as her partner, the baby’s father, was not in the picture, and her mother was babysitting the other children.
Patricia Pouncey got a phone call the next day informing her of her daughter’s passing and that she needed to come and pick up the baby.
Patricia was heartbroken and totally devastated as she went to collect her newest grandson.
She knew right from the start that she was going to do everything in her power to ensure that all the children stayed together, and with her.
Nikita’s children range in age from 19 years old to Nathaniel who is now only 3 months old.
Patricia says that she has had no contact with the hospital other than receiving her daughter’s birth certificate and the blunt notice of her passing on the day of.
When asked by the popular magazine ‘People’, the hospital released a simple statement saying that they are sorry for the family’s loss but that they cannot disclose any other information.
Patricia is determined to do her best for these children but she wasn’t expecting to have to fit 12 growing bodies into her small house.
She is now looking to find a larger place to live where she and each of the children can thrive.
Patricia has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Nikita’s burial costs, as well as to help raise the children and ensure they are well taken care of.
The goal started at $10,000 for the funeral and was quickly met, it was then raised to $75,000 for the children and was also quickly met.
There is now over $106,000 raised for the family and more donations keep coming in every day.
Many people were struck by the overwhelming tragedy of this loss and wanted to do whatever they can to help.
“I am so sorry for your loss. I hope the future brings you joy and blessings.” commented one donator.
While another commented saying, “So so sorry for your terrible loss. Sending love and support to all the children and family.”
Patricia is grateful for any amount of help received, though she knows that nothing can bring back her daughter or her grandchildren’s mother.
“I tell them every day,” Patricia says while holding baby Nathaniel and rubbing his chest, “Your mother is right here.”
Meet Patricia and some of the children she is now raising in the video linked below.
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