Welcoming a child after long anticipation is undoubtedly one of the most emotional experiences. However, following the child’s birth, a family’s joy can quickly turn to sadness, and this story proved it. A Texas mom of 10 died on Monday, less than two weeks after welcoming her first daughter, her family said.
Sonya Harlow, mom of 10 dies days after giving birth to first daughter, had prayed to have a baby girl for the longest time. She and her husband, Spencer Harlow, a U.S. Army veteran, had ten boys, some together and some from their previous relationships.
A few years into her marriage to Spencer, Sonya took in again. This time, she was pregnant with a girl and could not be happier. Like many pregnancies, hers came with health complications such as high blood pressure.
In addition, Sonya had other health issues which stopped her from working in the healthcare industry as an admissions director. She endured all of these until she finally welcomed her beautiful first daughter on November 5, 2020. The mom, 39 — who shared 10 kids with Spencer, some of which are from their previous marriages — finally got to see her prayers answered when she welcomed baby Eliyanah. Indeed, it was a surreal moment for the proud mom and her husband. Not long after the baby’s birth, Sonya and Spencer came up with the perfect name for their daughter.
Unfortunately, on November 16, 11 days after Eliyanah’s birth, Sonya passed away. Recalling the circumstances surrounding her death, Spencer made it known that around 2 a.m., he woke up and heard his wife making sounds of distress. “I rolled over and could see she was dying. We did CPR on her until the paramedics arrived, but she had flatlined by then. It was too late,” he recalled to the outlet, adding that he believes Sonya died as a result of a postpartum-related medical emergency. It was a devastating moment for the husband, who was left to cater to the boys and Eliyanah. Spencer described Sonya as a good wife and the prettiest woman he had ever met.
“She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. She was so vibrant and full of life,” Spencer Harlow said of his wife Sonya
ARRANGEMENTS FOR SONYA’S FUNERAL
Following Sonya’s death, Spencer revealed that there was no life insurance or money set aside for her funeral, as her demise was unexpected. So, Nancy Leger Davie, the deceased’s best friend of 17 years, set up a GoFundMe page with a $10,000 goal to assist the Harlow family. Davie was also taken aback by her friend’s death. “I don’t know how I’m going to live my life without her. She’s been a huge part of my life,” Davie said.
Thankfully, well-meaning individuals donated, and Davie raised $46,603. Sonya’s funeral was held after that, at the Greater Faith Apostolic Church in Dayton.