First-time mum dies during childbirth as kind-hearted strangers raise £75,000 for heartbroken family

The heartbroken family of a mum who died in childbirth have been gifted more than £75,000 from kind-hearted strangers.

Chelsea McGillivray, 31, died after going into labour with her baby Tommy on August 24. The mum from Rutherglen, south-east of Glasgow, suffered a cardiac arrest as she was preparing to give birth to her first child.

Tragically, doctors were unable to save her life. A fundraiser was set up following Chelsea's death to support her son and partner Jack Mitchell, 31. Relatives organised the GoFundMe to raise the equivalent of a few months' wages for Jack, who is now on paternity leave. Since being set up, the campaign has raised £74,480 out of a target of £100,000.

"There are no words to describe what Jack and everyone who loves her are going through right now. In the middle of unimaginable grief, Jack is also facing the reality of raising their beautiful little boy without his partner by his side," organiser and Jack's sister-in-law Lorna McGilivray said.

"We have set up this fundraiser to try to take away some of the financial pressure that comes with everything they are now facing. We want Jack to be able to focus on Tommy, on grieving, and on getting through each day without having to worry about how he is going to manage financially."

Lorna, 33, paid tribute to her sister, telling The Scottish Sun: "A family was all Chelsea ever wanted, to be a mum. I’ve got two boys, and we knew what kind of mum she would be, because we saw her with them. She was just so maternal, Chelsea was always babysitting other people’s kids, and she was just great with kids. I think that’s all she wanted.

"The doctor said this is a very rare thing to happen, but for the baby to survive is even rarer. Tommy is just a wee miracle, and I think it’s bringing a lot of comfort to her [Chelsea’s] mum that actually it is rare that it happens, because it just shows her body held on long enough to get him here safely. It was the last thing she got to do for him.

"I went through a hell of a time a few years ago, my oldest, he was in hospital for seven months, and I just thank Chelsea for being at that hospital, every single day for him, and that’s all I can do for Tommy, doing that every single day for him."

Lorna also praised Jack for his strength throughout the ordeal and said the entire family is supporting him. She said Tommy only came home on Wednesday and had been in the ICU for a couple of days due to the traumatic birth.

More than 2,300 people have donated to the fundraiser to support Jack and Tommy so far. Lorna added on the campaign page: "Any money raised will go directly towards helping Jack and Tommy with the costs and expenses that come with this devastating loss, both now and in the months ahead.

"If you are able to donate, no matter how much, it would mean more than we can put into words. And if you aren’t in a position to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser would mean so much to us.

"Thank you for helping us surround Jack and baby Tommy with some love and support during the darkest time of their lives."