New mother, 29, dies from coronavirus without ever being allowed to cuddle her son who she had given birth to just days before
- Fozia Hanif, 29, passed away in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital on April 8
- New mother tested positive for virus during check-up while she was pregnant
- Due to her condition, Fozia only saw photos of her baby before passing away
- Her son, Ayaan Hanif Ali, tested negative for the virus but remains in hospital
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A new mother died from coronavirus in hospital without being able to cuddle her son who she had given birth to just days before.
Fozia Hanif, 29, passed away in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital after her ventilator was turned off on April 8.
Her baby son, Ayaan Hanif Ali, was born on April 2 at 31 weeks via caesarean section.
The mother, who worked at Birmingham Magistrate’s Court’s probation services, had been taken to a recovery ward after the birth, but was moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) after her condition worsened.
Fozia Hanif, pictured, 29, passed away in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital after her ventilator was turned off on April 8. She had given birth just days before on April 2
She tested positive for the infection when it was discovered she had a slight fever during a maternity check-up, which she had been attending regularly after losing her first child the previous year.
According to ITV News, Fozia’s husband, Wajid Ali, said: ‘They said we’re going to keep her here to find out and we’re going to do a Covid test and they kept her for two days.
‘The test came back positive and the next day they said it was mild and you can go home.
‘After four days she had difficulty breathing and we called the ambulance.’
Fozia was unable to receive visitors and could only make a few phone calls while she was on the maternity ward, with much of the communication being between doctors and her family, according to relatives.
Due to her condition, Fozia was unable to see her baby and only saw photos of him before passing away.
Her sister, Sophia Hanif, said: ‘When the ambulance came they did checks and everything was alright in terms of her blood pressure and sugar levels, but they still had to take her in to hospital for her baby and the next two days, I think it was the second day she was in hospital she gave birth.’
After being informed she had developed a blood clot and was in a coma, her husband and father, Nabil, were allowed to visit wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Fozia’s baby son, Ayaan Hanif Ali, who was born at 31 weeks via Caesarean section. The newborn has tested negative for coronavirus but remains in hospital
At one stage the family were told her condition was improving and she would be taken to the recovery ward.
Fozia’s father said: ‘It gave us proper hope, we got excited. They took her to the recovery ward, they gave her the phone, we actually spoke to her.
‘When we walked into the hospital when they said they were going to turn the machines off, I said no don’t turn it off until we arrive, she’s a fighter, she can pull through – but when we walked in there, we just kept praying.’
The baby tested negative for coronavirus but remains in hospital.
Her sister added: ‘She had no time at all.
‘She was asking for food, she was asking about the baby, she was asking about family and then all of a sudden… It was just a shock to us all.’
The family was left ‘devastated’ by her death and is still grieving, with her father Nabil saying: ‘But we’ve got each other, holding each other, supporting each other, siblings, grandkids.
‘She was a little superstar with us in our family. She was an inspiration to us all.’