A first-time mum tragically died 30 minutes after giving birth to twin boys via a planned c-section. Rachael Galloway suffered complications after undergoing a caesarean and died after giving birth to Noah and Abel Galloway-Whittaker on August 1.
The 36-year-old business owner, who got engaged to Matt Whittaker just one week earlier, was excited to become a mum and was eagerly planning her wedding - wanting her boys to be a part of the ceremony. But the couple's baby joy was tragically cut short when Rachael, who lived in Carnforth, Lancashire, died at Royal Lancaster Infirmary despite doctors' best efforts.
Devastated Matt, 36, is now caring for his twin sons while planning Rachael's funeral, which will be held on September 6. Matt, from Carnforth, Lancashire, said: "She died bringing beauty into the world, bringing the boys into the world.
"She was the best thing that ever happened to me. On the Friday we got engaged we ate our meal and I remember sitting there saying to Rachael, 'can you believe that this is our life? Life really couldn’t get any better'.
"[On the day of the c-section] Rach was a star. Though she was nervous as hell she was strong as hell and kept a brave face throughout, right until the boys were born. Then there were tears of joy, seeing them, knowing they were healthy, and seeing me give Noah his first feed.
"She was so happy, so proud, so full of love. She had the world in her eyes when she looked at our boys. It's a shame that was the last time she cast her eyes on them, but I hope she is still watching over them.
"It wasn’t just her that died on that table that day, a piece of me did too and I will never get it back. But I won't let the legacy and the dreams she had for our boys die too. We have had to say goodbye to too much, and I will not let us lose any more.
"Rachael was the best person I ever met, she made the world a better place. Not just because she was smart, funny, driven, beautiful, caring, patient, and so many other things, but because she made the people around her better.
"She saw and brought out the best in people and I'm living proof that she could see what nobody else could. It's now my responsibility to be the man she saw and thought should start a family with her.
"I have to make her proud and ensure our boys grow up to be the gentlemen she would have been proud of."
Family friend Emma Jones set up a GoFundMe page to raise cash for Matt and the boys, which currently stands at £19,888. The 35-year-old lettings manager described the loss of Rachael as devastating and said the family is 'devastated and absolutely broken' by it.
Emma, from Bingley, West Yorkshire, said: "She was really excited about becoming a mum. She also got engaged the day after her birthday, she was finally getting her happy ever after. Before I went on holiday I gave her a hug and said 'the next time I see you you're going to be a mummy to two beautiful boys'.
"That's the last thing I said to her. I was so excited for her, I couldn't believe the next time I'd see her she'd be a mum. She was the best friend I've ever had, I can't believe we've lost her.
"Her fiancé and family are devastated, they're absolutely broken. Poor Matt has been left with these two beautiful babies and he's not having to be a dad to them while grieving his partner. I believe it happened within half an hour of the boys being delivered."
Sue Stansfield, Interim Director of Midwifery, UHMBT, said: "To lose a loved one is tragic, and our heartfelt condolences go out all family and friends affected by this sad loss.
"As we are in the process of carrying out an internal review and there is an ongoing Coroner's investigation, we can't comment further at this stage - except to say we will continue to support the family and colleagues involved."
You can donate to the GoFundMe here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-our-friend-rachael-galloway
