A Kansas City family is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated after their daughter died just days after giving birth without ever meeting her son.
Braxten Goodwin, 24, gave birth to her second child, Levite, in July just after being diagnosed with the virus.
She gave birth alone after contracting Covid and was isolated from her prematurely-born son, the Kansas City Star reported.
Braxten Goodiwn, seen here with her grandparents Pamela Goodwin and Bishop Lloyd at her college graduation, died of Covid while pregnant with her second child in August
Braxten had wanted to get the vaccine, but she worried it could do permanent harm to her baby.
To make matters more confusing, she received different recommendations from different doctors.
Goodwin called an ambulance July 17, a week after her diagnosis, saying she had chest and stomach pain that left her with trouble breathing.
Braxten’s mother Tamika Horton, seen here with Braxten’s son Levite and 22-month old daughter, Nova
The very next day, she gave birth to Levite despite being early in her third trimester.
Horton and Goodwin were not able to visit her because she was on a ventilator.
While she was able to still speak with her daughter, Horton said that Braxten wouldn’t wish Covid-19 on anyone.
Goodwin called an ambulance July 17, a week after her diagnosis, saying she had chest and stomach pain that left her with trouble breathing. 16 days later, she died
Levite later confirmed doctors fears by testing positive for Covid himself, spending three weeks in an NICU.
Braxten’s grandmother, Pamela, last saw her granddaughter on the Fourth of July, just days before she was Covid-positive.
Her family, who had all been vaccinated, wish she had joined them and wonder if it could have saved her life.
Just over a week after Goodwin died, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data showing the vaccine’s safety during pregnancy
Doctors eventually told the family that Braxten’s condition wasn’t going to improve. She died August 2, just 16 days after giving birth.
She also left behind a 22-month old daughter, Nova.
In a tragic end, just over a week after she died, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data showing the vaccine’s safety during pregnancy.
‘It was a week too late,’ her mother, Tamika Horton said.
Both Horton and her mother, Pamela Goodwin, are now encouraging everyone to mask up and get vaccinated.
Goodwin was vaccine hesitant at first, but she no longer regrets getting the shot.
Braxten had wanted to get the vaccine, but she worried it could do permanent harm to her baby
‘I don’t wish nobody to go through what we’ve gone through,’ she said. ‘If you can do it, please do it. Protect yourself and others as well.’
Horton wishes that the tragedy wouldn’t have to be personalized before getting people to take action.
‘I feel like people don’t take it seriously until it knocks on their door,’ she said. ‘People have their opinion, but (the vaccine) will help you in the long run.’
Braxten was a devout Christian and loved basketball
‘Who would have ever thought this was all going to play out like this?’ Pamela Goodwin said. ‘We would have never thought in a million years, but it did happen.’
Braxten was a devout Christian and loved basketball, according to an obituary.
She had a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, something her family took great pride in.
Braxten’s grandmother Pamela Goodwin encourage masking and vaccination, saying she doesn’t want another family to feel how she does
Soon after, she became a mother, which her grandmother said changed her.
‘I saw her strength then, and I saw Braxten change from trying to be grown, to step into adulthood,’ Pamela Goodwin said. ‘She grew up overnight, and that was really exciting to see her transformation.’
Tamika’s mother and Braxten’s grandmother Pamela Goodwin simply don’t want another family to feel how they do.
‘Get the vaccine. It definitely can save lives. This is a not dream for us. This is a horrible nightmare. When are we going to wake up? But it’s not, it’s reality.’
A Gofundme campaign has raised over $14,000 for the family, including Goodwin’s two young children.