A first-time mother who was told she had just ‘weeks to live’ after giving birth to a baby daughter has tragically lost her battle to cancer.
Diana Sevealii, 36, from New Zealand, was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer five weeks after welcoming her little girl Brooklyn on March 2.
Her daughter needed to undergo an open heart surgery to survive after she was born prematurely with a heart defect.
At the time, the mother had refused chemotherapy because she wanted to spend her final weeks building fond memories with her baby.
And on May 20, the mother-of-one died peacefully shortly after she gave little Brooklyn three kisses on the cheek, NZ Herald reported.
Diana Sevealii, 36, (pictured with her baby) has died after she was tragically diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer five weeks after giving birth to her little girl Brooklyn
Six weeks ago doctors told Diana Sevealii, 36, living in New Zealand, she had stage four cervical cancer and had ‘weeks to live’, which came after the birth of her daughter
Her brother Benna Sevealii said before she took her last breath, she got to see her daughter one final time.
‘Di passed away peacefully. We were all in her room. She was struggling to breathe so we brought Brooklyn to see her,’ he said.
‘She kissed baby and then Mum. Seconds later she drifted off and that was that. It was her last breath.’
It was a clear wish of Ms Sevealii’s that Brooklyn was there with her until the end and she spent her last week’s making special memories with her newborn daughter.
In April, Ms Sevealii shared her anguish, telling the Herald on Sunday: ‘It breaks my heart knowing I am leaving her. I have only just got her.’
The 36-year-old was forced to confront her own mortality as well as the reality that she will not be there for the challenges Brooklyn will face in the future.
More than $40,000 has so far been donated to a Givealittle page to assist with Brooklyn’s care and treatment now that her mother has died.
‘Our family wants to thank Auckland Starship, Heart Kids and all the friends and strangers who have rocked up to the hospice and hospital – it’s absolutely amazing a community has come together and done that for our family and Di,’ Ms Sevealii’s brother said.
More than $40,000 has so far been donated to a Givealittle page to assist with Brooklyn’s care and treatment now that her mother has died
Last month Brooklyn went under an intense three-hour operation to allow blood to be pumped through her lungs.
Previous scans showed the little girl was deteriorating, but now she is over four kilos and continues to grow.
Once Brooklyn recovers from the open heart surgery that the family hopes she has next month, she will be flown to New York to be raised by Diana’s sister Moira and husband Evan.
‘Already we have been overwhelmed with a great outpouring of help from family and friends and for this we are humbly appreciative,’ the page reads.