Grieving husband of mother who died just eight days after giving birth to IVF triplets tells of 'huge gap in all our lives'

  • Isabel Mason had two rare tears in her aorta that 'burst open', inquest hears
  • 'Izzy' had joked to a midwife about needing a bigger car when she collapsed
  • Had haemopericardium - 'phenomenally rare' issue when blood floods heart
  • The coroner today recorded a verdict of death by natural causes
  • Triplets Mattias, Lukas and Sarah, are being brought up by her husband Paul
  • 'As the triplets have grown and their personalities have developed I regularly see so much of Isabel in them,' he said

By Inderdeep Bains

PUBLISHED: 11:05 EST, 26 June 2013 | UPDATED: 19:29 EST, 26 June 2013

A woman who longed to be a mother and was ‘overjoyed’ after giving birth to triplets died just eight days later of a ‘phenomenally rare’ heart condition.

Moments before she collapsed, Isabel Mason had joked with midwives about needing a bigger car and buggy for her three children.

An inquest heard Mrs Mason had had IVF treatment and had the babies delivered four weeks early in a planned Caesarean section on March 2 last year.

Tragedy: Isabel Mason, right, had been 'on top of the world' after giving birth to triplets but she died just eight days after their birth. Her husband Paul is pictured left

Tragedy: Isabel Mason, right, had been 'on top of the world' after giving birth to triplets but she died just eight days after their birth. Her husband Paul is pictured left

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that the German-born IT project worker and husband Paul, 45, from Weeke, near Winchester, Hampshire, were ‘over the moon’ by the arrival of Mattias, Lukas and Sarah, who are now 15 months old.

 

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However, Mrs Mason, 34, was kept in hospital for observation after suffering from pre-eclampsia and anaemia, which left her weak, dizzy and short of breath.

On March 10, she was due to have a blood transfusion but fell unconscious after being anaesthetised before the treatment.

Staff at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester fought in vain for 35 minutes to resuscitate her and a post mortem examination revealed she died of haemopericardium, the leaking of blood into the sac surrounding the heart from a cut in an artery.

Cherished: Triplets Mattias, Lukas and Sarah, pictured, will now be brought up without their German-born mother

Cherished: Triplets Mattias, Lukas and Sarah, pictured, are being brought up without their much-missed German-born mother

Mrs Mason complained of feeling unwell as anaesthetist Dr Nicola Bosley prepared to carry out the blood transfusion and slumped on to the bed, midwife June Phillips told the inquest.

‘One minute, Mrs Mason was talking about the babies’ buggy and how she needed a bigger car – the next she passed out,’ she said.

‘At first, we thought she had fainted but it soon became clear it was more than a faint because she was so limp.’

In a statement, Dr Bosley said: ‘Immediately after injecting Mrs Mason, she said, “I feel really funny. I feel really funny. In fact, I feel awful.” At that point, her head rolled back and she became unresponsive.’

Family: Husband Paul Mason, pictured arriving at the inquest, is now bringing up their children Mattias, Lukas and Sarah without their mum

Family: Husband Paul Mason, pictured arriving at the inquest, is now bringing up children Mattias, Lukas and Sarah without their mum

Martin Pitman, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the hospital and who oversaw Mrs Mason’s care, said: ‘Mrs Mason coped admirably well with the rigours of multiple pregnancy. She was a pleasure to look after and never complained.

'She delivered three healthy babies and, as is often the case when couples have struggled to conceive, it was a very joyous event. It was a very straightforward delivery.’

The post mortem examination revealed Mrs Mason suffered two ‘significant’ tears to her aorta, 3.5cm and 2.2cm in length.

The tears allowed the sac around her heart to fill with blood and clot.

‘Aortic dissection is a phenomenally rare event, and this is only the second case in 20 years that I have had even peripheral contact with,’ said Mr Pitman.

‘It is difficult, if not impossible, to know if it just burst or if there was a gradual seepage of blood.

The evidence would suggest it was a sudden burst.’

Mr Mason met his wife while working at Ordnance Survey in Southampton and they married in June 2010.

He told the inquest how he had tried to visit his wife but was ushered out of the ward as staff rushed to her bedside.

He said he returned to see her after checking on the children, ringing a bell to be allowed access to the ward.

He was let in but other staff moved him out of the ward.

He said: ‘I texted Isabel to say, “I think there’s some sort of emergency on the ward, I don’t think I’m going to get in for a while.” I never heard back from her.’

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, coroner Graeme Short said he believed the tear occurred ‘spontaneously’ and could not have been detected or repaired.

After the hearing, Mr Mason said in a statement: ‘We all have many happy memories of an inspiring, beautiful and much-loved person who achieved so much, including motherhood, in a life tragically cut short.’

The Royal Hampshire County Hospital where Isabel Mason gave birth to triplets but died just over a week later

The Royal Hampshire County Hospital where Isabel Mason gave birth to triplets but died just over a week later

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So incredibly sad. I hope that as time passes her family -and especially her children- get some comfort from knowing that her last eight days were probably among the happiest in her life because of the longed for babies.

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Only the good die young.

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So sad to hear off this tragic loss. Adorable babies and she would have been very proud of them. Hope her husband and they will be ok.

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The triplets will know what a wonderful person their mother was.

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Such a sad story. I was born in this hospital many years ago - always thought of it as "my hospital". Rest in peace love.Their father will never let them forget you, that is obvious. Terrible tragedy.

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I hope the poor Dad is getting lots of support, and that his lovely children will bring him much happiness in the end. Very sorry for his loss though.

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This extremely sad :( I wish all the best to the father and their beautiful young children xx

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How very sad I'm sure the beautiful babies will grow with much love from their dad x

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I'm so sorry for poor Izzy. This is heart wrenching. Those babies are beautiful what an amazing job she did as a mummy in such a short space of time. Heartfelt wishes to Dad. He must be an amazing person too. Sick of hearing about poor babies dying through neglect of abuse and then things like this happen too mums who would have been brilliant. RIP Izzy x

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So sad, good luck and love to the daddy.... Stay strong

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