Marisha and Riley were overjoyed as they welcomed their baby girl into the world a week before Christmas. It would soon turn into the worst day of their lives

A young family lost their seemingly healthy newborn daughter soon after she began displaying a worrying symptom just days before Christmas.

Marisha Smith, 19, and Riley Raynor, 21, welcomed their daughter Nova on December 18 following a planned C-section at Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service, in rural South Australia.

Nova’s heartbroken grandmother, Danni Smith, recalled she was born ‘healthy and pink and beautiful’ with an apgar score of 9.9 out of 10.

‘That night they went to go to sleep and the nurses came into to do their check and later Marish looked down and saw the baby’s lips were blue,’ Ms Smith told the Adelaide Advertiser.

‘She panicked and ran out and said, ‘there’s something wrong with my daughter’ – and there would have been a team of 15 midwives and paediatricians working on her for over an hour.’

Nova’s pulse was lost three times before she was announced dead at 2.45am on December 19.

Ms Smith said the young parents, who have another daughter – Malayah, were ‘beside themselves’ with grief. 

‘They were expecting to bring home baby Nova from the hospital, they had the whole house set up. For all this to happen the week before Christmas, we had to put on a brave face for the other children,’ she said. 

Nova (pictured) appeared to be healthy at birth but died hours after her mother noticed her lips turning blue

Nova’s ‘little heart and brain’ were sent for abnormality checks as doctors attempt to find her cause of death. 

Both Ms Smith’s daughter and her partner have been left ‘heartbroken and shattered’ with Mr Raynow, who works in a crayfish processing factory, unable to return to work.

‘They were given a beautiful bear with angel wings and Nova’s prints on it by family friends and he’s been sleeping with it every night, he’s absolutely heartbroken, as is mum,’ Ms Smith said.

She has created a GoFundMe to help the couple cover funeral costs and alleviate some of the financial pressure they face amid their grief.

‘During this incredibly challenging time, the parents find themselves struggling to cope emotionally,’ Ms Smith wrote on the page.

‘The sudden nature of Nova’s passing has left us all unprepared, and the costs associated with the funeral have added to our burden. 

‘The parents, are currently overwhelmed by grief and not ready to return to work, making it an extremely difficult time.’

Nova’s ‘little heart and brain’ were sent for abnormality checks as doctors attempt to find her cause of death (pictured, Nova’s mother, father, and big sister)

More than 50 donors have already raised over $3,000 for the young family, including an anonymous donation of $1,500.

‘We are deeply grateful for your kindness, compassion, and generosity during this heartbreaking time,’ Ms Smith wrote. 

‘Your support will help us create a lasting tribute to Nova and provide us with the comfort of knowing that our community stands with us in our sorrow.

‘Thank you for being a source of strength and hope.’