Video Credit: 12News, KUSA
This pregnant woman had a life-and-death decision to make, and the one she chose will leave you in tears.
During labor, doctors discovered that Karisa Bugal from Aurora, Colorado, had a rare and often fatal condition called “amniotic fluid embolism,” which “causes catastrophic shut-down of all the organs,” according to Dr. Kelly Gerow.
"The amniotic fluids surrounding the baby or part of the baby's skin or hair gets into the mother's bloodstream and that causes catastrophic shutdown of all the organs," Dr. Kelly Gerow said. "We don't know how to prevent it. We don't know how to keep it from happening at all."
Upon discovery of the condition, Karisa’s doctors “came in and rushed her back to the emergency room,” said Karisa’s husband Wes Bugal.
The doctors had to do an emergency C-Section.
As the baby’s heart rate dipped, Karisa was left with a critical decision: she could either go under immediately, or wait for a spinal and risk baby Declan’s life.
Although going under right away might cost her own life, Karisa chose the option best for her son and went under immediately. It was the last decision she would ever make.
Karisa passed away - but, only after giving birth to a healthy 7-pound, 4-ounce miracle baby, Declan Jay Bugal. The last time Karisa's husband saw her was when the doctors rushed her out for the emergency C-section.
"How do I explain to him that his mom is gone giving birth to him? I think about that all the time," said the new dad. "How do I explain when he asks where's mommy?"
“She came to the hospital to be a mom, and she did what she was supposed to do,” said Karisa’s sister, Maren Oates.