Husband appeals for support after wife gives birth, then suffers life-threatening stroke
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It seemed like everything was looking up for Calgarian Marco Martel's family — they'd just welcomed a new addition and his wife was set to acquire Canadian citizenship.
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But that fell to pieces earlier this month after his wife, Iffat Shakti, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke a week after giving birth to daughter Julia Ameera.
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Her husband said his wife's prognosis is not good, though she seemed to be recovering from the first stroke that occurred June 12 that left her in a coma.
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Their newborn daughter, fortunately, has been released from the neonatal intensive care unit at the Foothills Medical Centre and is doing well, said Martel.
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'She's mostly just missing her mom,' he said.
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Shakti, 28, remains hooked up to a breathing apparatus at the Foothills Medical Centre following the strokes for which high blood pressure contributed, said Martel.
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The anguished husband spends as much time there as he can at a time when the oldest of his two sons, aged four and one, questions what's happening.
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'He's always asking for his mom — how do you tell them their mom is in a coma in the hospital?' he said.
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He's also wondering how he'll keep his family's finances afloat as he's forced to attend to his family, which includes spending as much time as he can by his wife's side.
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The auto body detailer says he's paying loans on three rental properties, and his absence makes it difficult to find renters to pay for them.
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Shakti, he said, handled the financial end of the business, adding he's slowly learning that task, but staying positive hasn't been easy.
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Her medical condition could also dash her dreams of becoming a citizen of the country she's grown to love after arriving in Canada from her native Bangladesh in 2018.
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Shakti was scheduled to take her citizenship test this week, said Martel.
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'She loves Canada, her goal was to become a Canadian, and she always wanted to have a great life here as it's safe and a beautiful country,' he said.
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A brother-in-law from Vancouver is in Calgary to assist the family for a week, said Martel, but the dread and uncertainty remain.
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'I want her to keep on fighting — she has three kids and I need her,' said Martel.
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Calgary Herald
7 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Husband appeals for support after wife gives birth, then suffers life-threatening stroke
Article content It seemed like everything was looking up for Calgarian Marco Martel's family — they'd just welcomed a new addition and his wife was set to acquire Canadian citizenship. Article content But that fell to pieces earlier this month after his wife, Iffat Shakti, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke a week after giving birth to daughter Julia Ameera. Article content Article content Her husband said his wife's prognosis is not good, though she seemed to be recovering from the first stroke that occurred June 12 that left her in a coma. Article content Their newborn daughter, fortunately, has been released from the neonatal intensive care unit at the Foothills Medical Centre and is doing well, said Martel. Article content 'She's mostly just missing her mom,' he said. Article content Article content Shakti, 28, remains hooked up to a breathing apparatus at the Foothills Medical Centre following the strokes for which high blood pressure contributed, said Martel. Article content The anguished husband spends as much time there as he can at a time when the oldest of his two sons, aged four and one, questions what's happening. Article content 'He's always asking for his mom — how do you tell them their mom is in a coma in the hospital?' he said. Article content Article content He's also wondering how he'll keep his family's finances afloat as he's forced to attend to his family, which includes spending as much time as he can by his wife's side. Article content The auto body detailer says he's paying loans on three rental properties, and his absence makes it difficult to find renters to pay for them. Article content Shakti, he said, handled the financial end of the business, adding he's slowly learning that task, but staying positive hasn't been easy. Article content Article content Her medical condition could also dash her dreams of becoming a citizen of the country she's grown to love after arriving in Canada from her native Bangladesh in 2018. Article content Shakti was scheduled to take her citizenship test this week, said Martel. Article content 'She loves Canada, her goal was to become a Canadian, and she always wanted to have a great life here as it's safe and a beautiful country,' he said. Article content A brother-in-law from Vancouver is in Calgary to assist the family for a week, said Martel, but the dread and uncertainty remain. Article content 'I want her to keep on fighting — she has three kids and I need her,' said Martel. Article content
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