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2 days after death, woman gives birth

London: A British ice-skater gave birth to a baby two days after dying of brain haemorrhage.

Ice-skating coach Jayne Soliman collapsed and died from a brain haemorrhage but doctors at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading managed to keep her heart beating long enough to deliver Aya Jayne by Caesarean section.

Jayne was given big doses of steroids to help the child’s lungs develop and within 48 hours she gave birth to Aya. The kid, born 15 weeks prematurely, was her first child.

Her Egyptian-born husband Mahmoud Soliman said: “I can’t believe my little daughter has survived. In the space of 48 hours, I have experienced joy at the birth of my child and endured torment over losing my wonderful wife.”

“The two things she always wanted were a loving husband and a kid. I know she fought with all her might to keep our child alive, but it breaks my heart to know that she will never know Aya Jane.” he added.

The couple married in Abu Dhabi in 2007 while Jayne was teaching ice skating in Dubai. She converted to Islam and the couple moved to the UK.

Jayne was 25 weeks pregnant when she collapsed after a headache. “I am devastated. We enjoyed Christmas and future looked bright. There wasn’t a hint Jayne was ill. She went to bed with a headache and collapsed. I called 999 and she was taken to hospital but there’s nothing anyone could do,” Mahmoud said. PTI

[14 Jan 2009, The Times of India, Delhi]

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