‘Loving mother’ of 4 never got to hold her newborn before dying of COVID in New Jersey

There’s no secret that COVID-19 has cost a lot — including an immense loss of life, missed opportunities and social isolation from family and friends – and will continue to.

It cost a mom in New Jersey the precious moment to hold and bond with her newborn baby after she died from COVID-19 weeks after giving birth, according to a GoFundMe set up for her.

“Loving mother” Michelle Stani, 37, leaves behind four children, including baby Jayden, her partner, two parents, and two brothers after dying at a hospital in New Brunswick on Jan. 12, her obituary reads.

She “devoted her life to raising her children” and “was the kind of person that if you met once, you would never forget her.”

Stani had suffered from COVID-19-related pneumonia before her death, Patch.com reported.

“She was pregnant for the past two years all while working full-time, taking care of her kids, and going to school full-time at Rutgers University for her Masters in childhood education,” Zachary Pawlikowski, who is dating Stani’s daughter Samantha, told the outlet. Pawlikowksi also added how “she never even got to hold the newborn baby.”

The mom gave birth to her now 11-month-old daughter nearly a year ago before getting pregnant with Jayden, according to TAPinto.

The GoFundMe was created for Stani’s medical bills as well for her children and their education, it says, to “consider” financial support “instead of sending flowers or other condolences.”

Stani was born in New Brunswick and raised in Somerset, New Jersey, according to her obituary.

“She valued education highly and loved being around children,” it says, adding that she began a career in childcare and was a director for a daycare center in the state.

Stani’s funeral was held the morning of Jan. 19.

“Michelle was a strong, independent woman with a soft heart and a beautiful soul,” the obituary added.

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