She Refused Brain Surgery to Protect Her Unborn Baby and Gave Birth in a Coma

Date: 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 5/28/14 12:30 PM

Melissa Carleton, 39 is a modern-day hero. Her dreams of becoming a mother finally came true even if she wasn’t awake and aware when she gave birth to her adorable baby boy.

Carleton was so excited to be a first-time mom she could hardly contain herself. But sadly, just 10 weeks before her baby boy was due to arrive, Melissa suddenly slipped into a coma and has not been able to wake up since. Now that her son has been born, Melissa’s husband Brian Lande hopes his wife will wake up and finally be able to hold her son.

On Thursday, Melissa welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world via c-section even though she was 10 weeks into a coma.

“[Melissa]’s wanted to have a child for years,” Melissa’s father, John Farrell, toldABC News after his grandson was born. “Today, I can’t begin to tell you how happy we are. It’s indescribable.”

Carleton’s medical woes began earlier this year. She started to have unusual headaches after becoming pregnant. Doctors discovered a massive, benign tumor in her brain during her second trimester.

Carleton, a marriage and family therapist, wanted to put off brain surgery until after her son was born, but when she had a seizure in March, she was rushed into the operating room. Doctors successfully removed the mass, but the seizure left the 39-year-old in a coma. She hasn’t been fully conscious since March 11.

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From the ABC News story:

John Farrell’s pregnant daughter went into a coma 10 weeks ago, but today it’s not hard for him to be joyful. Today, he became a grandfather.

“She’s wanted to have a child for years,” he told ABC News. “Today, I can’t begin to tell you how happy we are. It’s indescribable.”

Carleton’s husband, Brian Lande, has barely left her side, according to ABC affiliate KFSN-TV.

“I know that being able to love this little guy is going to be a wonderful experience, but I also know it’s going to be very hard for me to know that I am going to be the one to hold this baby first,” Lande told KFSN-TV before the birth.

Although Carleton is in a coma, she’s able to open her eyes and squeeze her family members’ hands, Farrell said. And Thursday morning, just before surgery to give birth to her son, she was the most awake Farrell has seen her in weeks.

“In a few tender moments, she reached out to Brian, took his cheek, pulled his cheek down to her face and held it there,” Farrell said. “It was the first time she had hugged Brian since this trauma happened.”