MI woman dies after giving birth

The doctors believe she had an amniotic fluid embolism

A Temperance, Michigan, woman dies after giving birth to a healthy baby boy. Bernadette Lewis was 31 years old. This was her first child. Brandon Lewis II was born on Wednesday, September 23 at 3:06 p.m. He is seven pounds, five ounces and 20 inches long; perfect in every way. But the healthy bundle of joy never got to meet his mom.

Brandon Lewis says his wife, a Whitmer High School grad, had a healthy pregnancy. He was by her side holding her hand in the delivery room at Flower Hospital.

After the baby was born Brandon says, "I thought everything was fine, I thought she was just resting. I went down to get something to eat. When I came back, everything went crazy."

Brandon says Bernadette started hemorrhaging two hours after giving birth. The doctors believe she had an amniotic fluid embolism, a catastrophic syndrome that medical literature says is the fifth most common cause of maternal death in the world. The Lewis family thanks the doctors and nurses at Flower Hospital who did everything they could to save Bernadette's life. But she died the next day.

"It's so hard and so difficult but I've had a lot of help."

Brandon says he doesn't think he'll ever understand why this happened to the love of his life. But he'll devote the rest of his life to raising their handsome boy.

"I turned into Mr. Mom real quick."

Visitation for Lewis will be held tomorrow in Toledo at Gasiorwoski-Hanneman Funeral Home from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral is Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clements Church. She'll be buried at Calvary Cemetery.

The family has set up a memorial fund in her honor. The family is having a difficult time financially trying to take care of her funeral expenses and a new baby. Also, they want to start the new baby's college fund. Donations can be made to the 'Lewis Family Memorial Fund' at any Key Bank location.

Get more Local »

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•