The suburban Denver community of Aurora, Colorado, has gone above and beyond to help a man grieving the sudden loss of his wife, who died hours after giving birth to their daughter last month.
Frederick Connie is in dire financial straits as he struggles to juggle life with a newborn still in the hospital while also planning his wife Keyvonne’s funeral. A medical emergency forced his wife, who wasn’t due until mid-January, into early labor Nov. 30 and left Connie to make an impossible decision.
Frederick Connie (left) said he’s committed to being a full-time father to his baby girl after the sudden loss of his wife, Keyvonne. (Images courtesy of FOX 31 Denver)
“It was either give her the surgery first and maybe save her life, but you’re going to lose your daughter. Or your daughter can be saved but there’s a chance you might lose your wife,” he recalled doctors telling him.
Connie welcomed his baby daughter but ended up losing the love of his life the very same day. Keyvonne was able to see photos of their newborn baby, Angelique Keyvonne Connie, before she passed away.
The tragic story hit home for Aurora woman LeQuita Taylor, who felt it in her heart to help Connie in a big way.
“Being a mother, it really moved me because 38 years ago when I delivered my son I had preeclampsia and toxemia,” Taylor told FOX31 Denver. “I was in labor for three days. I almost died, as well as my son.”
Taylor and her husband, Michael Taylor Sr., are the owners of Taylor Mortuary and have offered funeral and cremation services for Connie’s late wife, free of charge.
“It’s not just a financial burden that would be lifted off of this gentleman, it would be the burden of dealing with his child and at the same time burying his wife,” Michael Taylor said.
The couple, who have been in business for 16 years, said they know these tragedies all too well and have had cases where they’ve buried a mother and child together. LeQuita Taylor lamented the fact that there are still so many mothers dying from pregnancy or childbirth complications.
“Even with all the high tech and everything, mothers are still leaving a lot of their babies,” she told the station.
The community at large has also lent a helping hand. A Facebook fundraiser launched by Connie’s boss has collected more than $25,000 in donations in just a week.
“Anything you can do small or big is much appreciated! I’ve never done a fundraiser before, but I can’t Imagine any more difficult time then this in a persons life,” Justin Collins wrote on the crowdfund page. “I know as he begins to figure out life, he will deeply appreciate it.”
Watch more in the clip below.
