McHenry’s mother who contracted COVID during pregnancy shares message from hospital: “I wish I had been vaccinated”

McHENRY, Ill. (WLS) – McHenry’s wife who fell into a coma after giving birth is now reunited with her newborn baby.

Samantha Kelly contracted COVID-19 while pregnant. She talks about the ordeal she calls a nightmare for the first time, with a message for other expectant mothers.

“I was almost dead, a few scary times I heard I was about to not make it,” Kelly recalls.

Today Kelly says she’s just happy to be alive and hugging her newborn baby for the first time, weeks after giving birth.

“It makes me cry,” she said. “It was magical.”

SEE ALSO | 3 in 4 pregnant women have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, CDC data shows

Kelly was about 32 weeks pregnant when she, her husband and their two children all contracted COVID-19. She feared the worst.

“She was having trouble breathing, she felt bad, had a fever,” said husband Donnell Kelly.

She was rushed to hospital and a few days later doctors told her they had to give birth.

“I just remember the doctor holding my hand saying she was going to release my baby,” Kelly said.

Kelly was immediately put into an induced coma.

“Seeing her on a ventilator, a breathing machine for her, that’s when I broke,” her husband said.

SEE ALSO | COVID Increases Risk of Premature Birth in Pregnant Women, Study Finds

The couple had delayed getting the COVID-19 vaccine for a while, but Donnell eventually did. Samantha waited until her pregnancy was more advanced and was due to receive her first dose the same week she fell ill.

“A lot of decisions are thrown at you, you try while mom makes the best,” she explained. “Unfortunately I did the wrong thing, I should have been vaccinated.”

Samantha is finally breathing and eating on her own and can visit baby Holden once a day, but she hasn’t been able to see her other children, ages 3 and 5.

“I can’t wait to be able to see my children again. I wish I had been vaccinated, I really wish I had,” she said. “I hope every pregnant woman gets it. It’s so much better than near death.”

The CDC recently strengthened its guidelines, recommending that pregnant women be vaccinated against COVID-19, including women who are breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or planning to become pregnant.

A GoFundMe was set up for the family to help with medical expenses and bills.