'He took his last breaths with our newborn son on his chest': Connecticut woman, 28, gives birth to her second child just HOURS before her husband, 33, dies of cancer
- Jb Parke was diagnosed with cancer in January, and late last month was admitted to a Connecticut hospital and told he had just days left to life
- His wife Haley Parke, 28, was three weeks away from her due date with their second child, a son
- Doctors induced labor so Jb could meet his son before he died, and when it didn't progress quickly enough, they performed a C-section
- The baby was whisked up to Jb's ICU room and placed on his chest, and after Haley was stitched up, she was also wheeled to his room
- In an emotional Facebook post, Haley said Jb died while she held his hand and the baby - also named Jb - was on his chest
A Connecticut woman has revealed that she gave birth to her second child and lost her husband to cancer within hours.
Haley Parke, 28, was three weeks away from her due date when she and her husband Jb Parke received some terrible news: Jb, who had been diagnosed with cancer in January, was declining faster than expected and had just days left to live.
Determined that Jb should get to meet his son, doctors induced labor and then performed a C-section on Haley, bringing baby John Beeson Parke — also known as baby Jb — into the world just in time to lay on his father's chest while he took his last breaths.
A Connecticut woman gave birth to her second child and lost her husband to cancer on the same day
Haley Parke, 28, gave birth to a baby boy via C-section while her husband lay dying in an ICU room nearby
Jb had been diagnosed with cancer in January of this year. Shortly after, the couple — who had been married three years and also had an 18-month-old son — conceived a second son.
As they drew closer to the due date, Jb's condition worsened, and he was given a prognosis of six months.
Then, on November 28, he was admitted to Hartford Hospital with complications from his cancer. Within days, they were told that his six-month prognosis was now turning into a matter of days.
'The doctor told us cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. His lungs were filled with fluid,' she told Today.
Haley wrote about what happened next in an emotional Facebook post.
'With our second son’s due date three weeks away, my husband and I knew asking for an induction was the right thing to do,' she wrote.
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Jb Parke was diagnosed with cancer in January, and late last month was admitted to a Connecticut hospital and told he had just days left to life
'Without hesitation, the team of ICU doctors communicated with the head of high risk labor and delivery doctors. They offered me an induction as soon as I was ready.
'I kissed my sweet husband goodbye and told him to be strong and hold on for me and the baby — he said he would,' she went on.
They began the induction process the night of December 1, but Haley's labor didn't progress quickly enough, and at 8 a.m. on December 2, doctors came in with a change of plans.
Haley says they told her: 'Jb was declining fast and had a matter of a few hours. It was either a C-section right at that moment, or Jb would not have the opportunity to meet our son.
'With out a question in my mind, I said “Let’s go” and we did just that,' she wrote. 'In a matter of literally one minute, I was in the OR, and in just a short 20 minutes later, our son was born.
'He was given to me for a quick kiss, and then a team of doctors and nurses ran him up two floors, and he was placed on his daddy’s chest.'
Doctors induced labor so Jb could meet his son before he died, and when it didn't progress quickly enough, they performed a C-section
The baby was whisked up to Jb's ICU room and placed on his chest, and after Haley was stitched up, she was also wheeled to his room
Haley said they then experienced a miracle: 'When our baby was placed on Jb’s chest, Jb’s vitals all instantly improved. He was also acknowledging our son was there by making small head movements and sweet moans.'
Doctors stitched Haley up and then wheeled her bed into Jb's room, placing her beside him.
'I spent my recovery time gazing at my husband. I was gazing at him in sadness, but in awe of his strength,' she wrote.
'He took his last breaths with our son on his chest and my hand in his hand.'
Though an early delivery can mean complications and a stay in the NICU, baby Jb was born weighing a healthy 7 lbs. 4 oz., with fully-developed lungs.
'From the OR to the ICU room, there were what felt like hundreds of doctors and nurses floating us through this process effortlessly. Not one of them having a dry eye the entire time,' Haley wrote.
In an emotional Facebook post, Haley (pictured with their other son) said Jb died while she held his hand and the baby - also named Jb - was on his chest
'Some of them told me they’ll never forget this act of selflessness. Some called my actions brave and heroic. I just call it love. I acted out of love. I put my trust in God that this was part of his plan, and I did what I had to do, out of love, to fulfill my husband’s last wish.
'Up until the moment of induction, we had not had names picked out. I knew in my heart it was only right to honor my husband. So, it is my pleasure to announce the birth of our brave, amazing son, John Beeson Parke (Jb).
Speaking to Today, Haley said described experiencing 'both my greatest grief and my greatest joy' at the same time.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.
Haley said described experiencing 'both my greatest grief and my greatest joy' at the same time
