The family of a young mother who lost her unborn baby and was declared brain dead just days later have spoken of their deep grief.
Olivia Harlow, 25, died eight days after losing the baby girl she and her devastated partner, Ryan Stephenson, named Adeline.
In a series of events that left her family baffled, Olivia was brought to the Royal Brisbane Hospital suffering from headaches and blurred vision.
The mother of one boy, who was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, was told to go home and rest after tests came back positive.
Olivia’s sister-in-law Stefanie Harlow said the expectant mother noticed Adeline wasn’t moving two weeks later and rushed back to the hospital on June 16.
“They did a scan and the baby had passed away,” Harlow told Daily Mail Australia.
After giving birth, Olivia stayed in the hospital for a few nights before being given the all-clear and discharged.
However, a few days later, she returned to the hospital and told doctors that she still did not feel well and was suffering from severe headaches.
Olivia Harlow, 25, died just eight days after losing her unborn baby. She is pictured with her long-time partner Ryan Stephenson and their daughter Evaliah.
Olivia appears in the photo with her younger brother Ryan.
“Doctors looked at a scan he had two weeks earlier and said there was nothing there to warrant further testing,” Harlow said.
‘They said she was probably still stressed out from everything that had happened and they practically sent her back home.
‘The next day, Olivia was found unconscious by her partner in her bedroom, so she was rushed to hospital on life support.
There they did more scans and found tumors all over his brain.
“He had a huge one on the back of his head, almost the size of two golf balls, which had put pressure on his wiring harness, causing him to stop breathing and sending messages to his body to pump blood.”
Scans revealed Olivia was brain dead and her family made the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support on June 24.
Ms Harlow said they were left with more questions than answers.
Pictured are Olivia, Denim Cooke and their mother Jill Rapmund.
“Her brain has been sent to a research centre for further tests, which could take up to two years to get an answer. We don’t understand why she was rejected so many times and no one did anything. We have the feeling that nothing was done,” he said.
‘She was only 25, but otherwise fit and healthy. We shouldn’t have to be in this situation, where we’re letting her rest. It’s a medical mystery.’
‘We asked the doctors and they said they couldn’t explain it. In 26 days I had nothing and suddenly I was riddled (with tumors).’
‘The first scan they did was low radiation so it wasn’t great quality but it should still have shown something. (The doctors) said they just couldn’t explain it, they’d never seen anything like it.
“Unfortunately, the coroner has not been able to give us any information.”
Ms Harlow gave birth to her sixth child, a girl, the day after Olivia’s family made the decision to turn off her life support.
Olivia is remembered as a caring and loving mother, partner, friend and relative.
Olivia is pictured with her older brother Chris (standing alongside his wife Stefanie Harlow), her father David, her mother Jill and two younger brothers Scott and Ryan.
She chose ‘Alivia’ as her daughter’s middle name in honor of her sister-in-law.
“I guess I was Olivia’s older sister,” Harlow said.
There is a nine-year age difference between her and her brother, so we are a little bit older than her, but yes, I remember combing her hair before she went to school.
“She asked me to braid her hair and take her to school. I can’t believe it, no one should have to bury their child. I feel so sad because in her last days she lost Adeline and then we lost her.
“I can’t imagine what his last thoughts were. I don’t even think I can come up with that.”
Ms Harlow said she wished the family had known about Olivia’s headaches so they could have pushed for further tests.
“We felt a little guilty, wondering why he didn’t contact us,” she said.
‘We could have pushed a little harder to get something else done. Her pain threshold is quite high, so saying something wasn’t right is not like her.
Olivia was a fit, healthy mother of a son who had her whole life ahead of her, her family said.
“Normally she wouldn’t complain, so being rejected three times, even though everything is fine, is not enough for us.”
The family has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for Ryan, who is now raising his four-year-old daughter Evaliah alone.
‘He’s dealing with a lot of things. Everyone has been very supportive, which has been good, but… “Obviously, nothing is going to bring them back,” Harlow said.
‘Olivia had the potential to do many things. She could have done anything she wanted. As a child she was athletic, good at school,He was a model, she was really perfect and kind-hearted. She definitely didn’t deserve what happened to her.
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