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Shortly after Caitlin fell into a coma, she gave birth to a baby girl.

 

 

Doctors at Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital delivered Caitlin Stubbs’ little girl at just 32 weeks via an emergency c-section, shortly after the 25-year-old fell into a coma.

Caitlin had collapsed at home on July 23, having suffered a catastrophic brain bleed that was the result of an Arteriovenous Malformation — a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins.

The Queensland woman had been diagnosed with a smaller brain bleed in November last year, but radiation treatment for her AVM was postponed when she unexpectedly fell pregnant, according to The Courier Mail.

Caitlin and Jonathon became engaged just weeks prior to her hospitalisation. Image: Facebook.

After the recent, more-severe bleed, doctors told Caitlin's partner, Jonathon Welsh, to brace for the worst. He watched on as the woman to whom he'd become engaged just three weeks prior was rushed into an operating theatre to deliver their first child.

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"They pretty much said she wasn't going to make it," he told the publication. "I gave her a kiss. I got to say goodbye before they took her away."

Quinn was born weighing just 1.94kg and, after a few precious moments on Caitlin's chest, she was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit to fight a battle of her own.

She was discharged last Monday, and Jonathon has been bringing her to see Caitlin every day since.

The new mum, meanwhile, is making "slow but significant progress", according to her family. Jonathon told news.com.au that she is slowly regaining consciousness, but that her memory has been affected by the episode.

"Sometimes she whispers to me that she wants Quinn, and sometimes she asks whose baby it is,” he said.

Cailtin's family have established a GoFundMe page to help the trio cope with what lies ahead.

"The reality for Caitlin and Jonathon and their baby Quinn is a future filled with uncertainty over a very long recovery. She will need extensive rehabilitation plus future surgeries not limited to but including the removal of the AVM from her brain. She will require intensive physiotherapy, [occupational therapy] and speech therapy, among other remedial therapies," her family wrote.

"Funds will be used to cover medical costs, treatments, a wheelchair and home modifications needed to get her home eventually. Baby Quinn and her dad will also be needing support as he begins the care of a fragile newborn without the help of Caitlin.

"Caitlin is a gorgeous young woman faced with an incredibly difficult future. Please help her to have a quality of life she deserves."

To support Caitlin and Jonathon, donate via GoFundMe. You can follow her progress via the Facebook page, Caitlins Recovery.