Baltimore woman, 56, dies after delivering twins she waited years for
Lisa Swinton McLaughlin struggled for 10 years with fertility treatments before finally becoming pregnant last year. But just a week after her twins were born, the new mother died from a bowel obstruction.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 4:42 PM
Updated: Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 4:42 PM
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COURTESY MCLAUGHLIN FAMILYLisa Swinton McLaughlin, 56, died shortly after giving birth to twins.
A gifted Baltimore woman is dead just days after giving birth to twins at age 56.
Lisa Swinton McLaughlin, the medical director for the American Red Cross in Baltimore, spent more than 10 years trying fertility treatments before finally conceiving last year with her husband, Michael. Her pregnancy was mostly uncomplicated, save for gestational diabetes, which her doctors managed, and a blood flow problem that caused her to go on bed rest a month early.
McLaughlin gave birth via Cesarean section on Dec. 27 to two healthy but premature babies: Jordan and Dylan.
"This is something she had wanted for years," Michael McLaughlin told the Daily News.
The new mom stayed in the hospital for four days after the procedure because the doctors wanted her to have a bowel movement before she went home. She produced a liquid bowel movement that the hospital deemed enough to discharge her.
Despite going home Dec. 31, Lisa had severe stomach pain — which she thought was from the procedure — and wasn't eating. Her doctors gave her some medication, but it didn't help. She was still swollen, too.
"She still looked like she was pregnant," Michael said.
On Jan. 4, the couple spoke to Lisa's doctor since she was still in pain. He told her she needed to walk more and drink more water.
But later that day, Michael helped his wife to the restroom, where she died of a bowel obstruction.
COURTESY MCLAUGHLIN FAMILY
COURTESY MCLAUGHLIN FAMILY
Jordan (l) and Dylan McLaughlin are still in the hospital, but are getting stronger.
Michael has not yet seen the autopsy report for his wife, deeming the process "a quagmire of paperwork." He is also unsure if he will take legal action against the hospital.
For now, he says he is focusing on his new twins, who are still in the hospital but growing.
"My concern right now is to get these two guys out of the hospital," he told the Daily News. "They're doing great. They're putting on weight, they're up in the 5 pounds now."
The boys should leave the hospital in the next week.
Lisa, who was licensed to practice medicine in 11 states and law in two, was memorialized by the American Red Cross at its Washington, D.C. headquarters, as well as Creighton University, where she completed undergrad and law degrees.
Michael plans to raise the babies in Nebraska, where his other sons live, with the help of a nanny. He has taken courses at the hospital to prepare him for fatherhood.
He has created a memory book of his wife for his boys to peruse when they're older.
"She was the kind of woman that, if she talked to you, you'd feel like she really wanted to talk to you," Michael said. "She was nice. She was a good friend. She would have made a great mother."
