VIDEO: A B.C. woman declared brain dead when she was 22 weeks pregnant was kept on life support until her son could be delivered. Baby Iver Cohen Benson was born Saturday evening. His mother passed away the next day. Robin Gill has the story.
Little baby Iver only weighs 2 pounds and 13 ounces.
But he is in stable condition after being born Saturday night in Victoria 12 weeks early.
“It’s overwhelming for sure,” father Dylan Benson told Global News. “I mean the last couple of days have been positive, as far as anybody who gets to have their first child, everything that comes with that, but also a deep, deep sadness.”
It is a bittersweet moment for the new dad, because following the birth of his son, he had to say goodbye to his wife Robyn.
Robyn was 22 weeks pregnant when she suffered a blood leak into the centre of her brain. She was declared brain-dead and the decision was made to keep her on life support until baby Iver was strong enough to be born.
Dylan said doctors decided to deliver Iver Saturday night because of the instability of his condition in the womb.
Robyn was taken off life support on Sunday.
Dylan said in a post on Facebook Monday night that he was proud to have known Robyn. “Just the strength that she showed to get our son to this point,” he said.
“I was very proud that my son will get to know that his mother was so strong.”
An online campaign to raise money for baby Iver has generated more than $163,000 in donations from people all over the world.
Dylan said the support has been very positive and heartwarming, and said it has helped him to stay strong for Iver.
“So many people are so moved by what happened and are so moved that he’s here,” he said.
He added that the money raised will go towards his education and paying bills, and for childcare when Dylan returns to work.
Dylan knows he has a long journey ahead of him and that this is just the beginning.
“It’s going to be bumpy,” he said, “like it would be for anybody who’s going home with a new baby. But I’m just going to give it my all and do the best that I can for him.”
“I just want to say thanks to everybody for their messages and their support.”
Dylan said he knows Robyn would be very proud of their baby and what he has lived through already.
“I think she would be very proud with him, he’s an amazing little man,” said Dylan. “There was never any doubt in my mind this is what she would have wanted. And seeing him now, there’s no question.”
VIDEO: Watch the full interview with Dylan Benson
VIDEO: Global BC News Hour report February 11, 2014
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