New Jersey mother of four dies of COVID-19 complications just three weeks after giving birth

A New Jersey mother of four died from COVID-19 just three weeks after giving birth, without ever getting to hold her newborn son. 

Michelle Stani, 37, of Bridgewater, passed away at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick on January 12 after suffering coronavirus complications linked to pneumonia. It’s unclear if she was vaccinated.  

The single mom had given birth to her fourth child, Jayden, at the hospital via cesarean section on December 24, but she was never able to hold her baby boy, her aunt Tina Stani told the New York Post. 

‘Her partner [Frank Allen] had taken a picture of the baby and showed it to her, but that’s all she got,’ she said. ‘It tore her up. She literally texted me that she was heartbroken, that she wished she could hold her baby. That’s all she wanted.’ 

Michelle Stani, 37, of Bridgewater, New Jersey died of COVID-19 complications on January 12, three weeks after she gave birth to her fourth child 

The mother of four was unable to hold her newborn son, Jayden, before she died at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick

The mother of four was unable to hold her newborn son, Jayden, before she died at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick

Michelle, whose funeral was held Wednesday in her hometown of Somerset, leaves behind four children: Samantha, 19, Noah, 4, Jordan, 11 months, and Jayden, 3 weeks. 

Tina said she didn’t know if her niece had been vaccinated against COVID-19.

‘I don’t know, she was pregnant for almost two years,’ she explained. ‘I would love to say one way or the other, but I don’t know.’

Michelle’s brother Jack Stani told NJ.com that he had initially assumed she was vaccinated but then wasn’t sure after she got sick. He said their family won’t talk about her vaccine status.  

‘I never knew my sister to be an anti-vaxxer,’ he added. ‘She never talked about it. We never talked about the vaccine. It was just something that never came up. It never dawned on me until she got really sick. Then I thought, “Was she vaccinated?”‘

The mom died of COVID-19 complications linked to pneumonia, but her aunt Tina Stani and brother Jack Stani said they aren't sure if she was vaccinated

The mom died of COVID-19 complications linked to pneumonia, but her aunt Tina Stani and brother Jack Stani said they aren’t sure if she was vaccinated

Michelle, who worked as the director of a daycare center in central New Jersey, contracted COVID-19 in December and gave birth to her baby boy Jayden (not pictured) on December 24

Michelle, who worked as the director of a daycare center in central New Jersey, contracted COVID-19 in December and gave birth to her baby boy Jayden (not pictured) on December 24

Michelle, who worked as the director of a daycare center in central New Jersey, contracted COVID-19 in December and gave birth to her baby boy Jayden (not pictured) on December 24

Michelle, whose funeral was held Wednesday in Somerset, leaves behind four children: Samantha, 19, Noah, 4, Jordan, 11 months, and Jayden, 3 weeks (not pictured)

Michelle, whose funeral was held Wednesday in Somerset, leaves behind four children: Samantha, 19, Noah, 4, Jordan, 11 months, and Jayden, 3 weeks (not pictured) 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 41 percent of pregnant women are vaccinated, despite data that shows the shot can prevent severe disease during pregnancy.  

Michelle worked as the director of a daycare center in central New Jersey. In September, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy mandated that childcare workers in the state had to be vaccinated by November 1 or face weekly testing. 

She was struck down with COVID-19 in December and was hospitalized because she was having difficulties breathing.   

‘When she would try to sleep she would wake up having trouble breathing,’ her brother Jack said. ‘She got intubated pretty quick.’ 

He recalled how devastated she was that she was only able to see her immediate family through a glass barrier.

Michelle announced her fourth pregnancy on Facebook in October, saying she was having another boy

Michelle announced her fourth pregnancy on Facebook in October, saying she was having another boy 

Michelle's partner Frank Allen shared that she gave birth to Jayden on Christmas Eve

Michelle’s partner Frank Allen shared that she gave birth to Jayden on Christmas Eve 

Michelle was pregnant for almost two years, first with her daughter Jordan and then with her son Jayden

Michelle was pregnant for almost two years, first with her daughter Jordan and then with her son Jayden 

‘She couldn’t see the baby. She was all alone,’ he said. ‘They only allowed my mother, my father, and Samantha to see her. And they were only able to see her through glass after she had been intubated.’

The family was asked to come into the hospital on January 10 to say their final goodbyes, according to Jack. Michelle was alone when she died two days later. 

‘She was the most genuine, authentic person I’ve ever met in my life,’ he said of his sister. ‘She never held back what she thought about anybody. She didn’t care who you were. She let you know exactly how she felt about you.’

Michelle got her master’s degree in education from Rutgers University last fall while pregnant with her daughter Jordan and working full-time. 

‘She wanted to own her own daycare, that was the end goal for her,’ Jack said. ‘She was active, she was independent and she wanted to do it all on her own. I don’t know how the hell she did it.’

Michelle was 17 when she welcomed her first child, Samantha (pictured)

Michelle was 17 when she welcomed her first child, Samantha (pictured) 

For years, it was just Michelle and Samantha, but then she met her partner Frank and had three more children

For years, it was just Michelle and Samantha, but then she met her partner Frank and had three more children

For years, it was just Michelle and Samantha, but then she met her partner Frank and had three more children

Michelle got her master¿s degree in education from Rutgers University last fall while pregnant with her daughter Jordan and working full-time. She dreamed of starting her own daycare

Michelle got her master’s degree in education from Rutgers University last fall while pregnant with her daughter Jordan and working full-time. She dreamed of starting her own daycare

Michelle was 17 when she welcomed her first child, Samantha. For years, it was just the two of them, but then she met her partner Frank and had three more children. 

Samantha, who spoke at her mother’s funeral, posted a heart-wrenching tribute on Facebook last week.  

‘My angel. My rock, my soulmate. I am eternally grateful for the life you gave me, the time I shared with you, for the mother that you were to me. No one will ever understand our bond and connection,’ she wrote. 

‘I need to see you again and I know one day I will and I promise I will give you the longest hug ever. You have impacted so many people, you are an inspiration. Noah, Jordan, Jayden, and I will always live through you and make you proud. I will cherish our amazing memories forever and I will continue to miss you every single day,’ she continued. 

‘I keep thinking this is a dream I never thought I  would lose you. My heart is so broken and life will never be the same without you but I will always carry you in my heart. I learned so much from you and I am so proud of all your accomplishments. There is truly no one like you, you are the best. I love you so much my mommy please watch over me.’ 

Michelle is survived by her parents John and Susan Stani, her partner Frank, her brothers Sean and Jack, and her four children, according to her obituary

Michelle is survived by her parents John and Susan Stani, her partner Frank, her brothers Sean and Jack, and her four children, according to her obituary

Samantha, who spoke at her mother's funeral, posted a heart-wrenching tribute on Facebook last week, saying she was her 'soulmate'

Samantha, who spoke at her mother’s funeral, posted a heart-wrenching tribute on Facebook last week, saying she was her ‘soulmate’ 

Frank also opened up about his grief on Facebook this week following Michelle's funeral

Frank also opened up about his grief on Facebook this week following Michelle’s funeral 

Michelle is survived by her parents John and Susan Stani, her partner Frank, her brothers Sean and Jack, and her four children, according to her obituary. 

She was described as being a music lover and a Dave Matthews Band fan who ‘attended many of their concerts throughout her life.’  

‘She was a fun person, who loved to dance and if you brought her any place with music, she would be on the dance floor the whole evening getting others to join in,’ the obituary said. 

A GoFundMe account started by Michelle’s family has raised more than $38,000 to cover the cost of childcare and education for her four kids. 

On Thursday, New Jersey reported 10,072 new cases of COVID-19 and 161 deaths. The state has had a total of 1.75 million cases and over 27,000 deaths from the virus.  

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