Heartbroken mum carries dying baby to save others

A mum carried a baby who was destined to die so she could donate her organs.

Krysta Davis, 23, and, Derek Lovett, 26, from Cleveland, Tennessee, made the brave decision with the hope that other parents would be able to take their babies home, when they couldn’t.

When Krysta was 18 weeks pregnant it was revealed their daughter, Rylei Arcadia, had anencephaly, a serious birth defect meaning should would be born without parts of her brain.

Doctors told the couple they could induce labour immediately or Krysta could carry to term knowing their daughter could die in the womb, and at best after delivery live for moments or days.

“Carrying her to full term would mean we had the option to donate her organs so that other mothers could bring home their babies when we couldn’t,” Krysta said.

“That sealed the deal for us, for the entire pregnancy the majority of our strength came from her, it was very positive, and we did everything we could like most parents do.”

Knowing their time was limited, they savoured every moment of the pregnancy from discovering her favourite bands to relishing every kick.

“I knew I had to be happy throughout the entire pregnancy for her, there was no point putting myself or her through that when we had such limited time together,” Krysta said.

“It was amazing feeling her kick, I didn’t know if she would move around at all but we found out, as she moved a lot.

“As we got further along into the pregnancy she moved more and more, I could watch her little feet move across my belly.”

And on Christmas Eve, Rylei was born weighing 2.7kg (six pounds) and miraculously survived a week, before passing away on New Year’s Eve in the arms of her parents.

“I had nine months to carry her and fall in love but it was nothing compared to holding her and seeing her, I couldn’t see anything wrong with her when she was born, I was in love,” Krysta said.

“It was really hard as we never knew how much time we were going to have with her.”

Her short life allowed two other babies a chance at life after her heart valves were donated, and her lungs went to a research foundation in desperate need of organs.

“After she passed, the surgeon came in and told he us he had not met a family like us in 12 years,” she continued.

“It felt wonderful knowing that because of her two other kids get to go home, that touched us the most.

“As hard as it is to give away those organs as it is your child, it makes a huge difference to others’ lives who wouldn’t have a second chance.”

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