Brain-dead woman kept alive for two months so her baby could be born

Baby boy Angel will never know his mum Karla   PHOTO   ;   COURTESY

US: A woman who was left brain-dead while pregnant was kept alive by doctors for nearly two months so her baby could be born.

Karla Perez, 22, was already expecting her second child in February when she collapsed in her Nebraska home from a catastrophic hemorrhage.

Docs declared her brain dead, but the young mum was kept on life support for a massive 54 days before her baby boy, Angel was ready to leave the womb.

He was finally delivered via a Caesarean section on April 4, weighing just 2lb 12oz.

Sue Korth, vice president of Methodist Women's Hospital, which delivered the child, told the New York Daily News: "Our team took a giant leap of faith."

"We were attempting something that not many before us have been able to do.

"Karla's loss of life was difficult, but the legacy she has left behind is remarkable."

Dr Andrew Robertson said "We had a a difficult decision to make.

"Karla's baby was fine, but its gestational age was too young to consider delivery."

The infant's condition remains stable, and he has no severe complications, the hospital said.

"There is nothing in the books about how to provide medical care in this situation," specialist Dr Todd Lovgren added.

Kind Karla also donated her liver, two kidneys and her heart before dying, officials said.