Mom chooses to die during childbirth to save son

AURORA, Co. -- Faced with an impossible situation, a Colorado mother made a delivery room decision that would ultimately end her life.

She did it so her newborn son could have one.

Karisa Bugal was in the delivery room Nov. 3 and excited to welcome her son, Declan. It was then that tragedy struck. Bugal had a rare condition called amniotic fluid embolism.

The condition happens when protective fluid around the baby escapes into the rest of the mother's body, which leads to a breakdown of her organs. The condition is so rare that it hasn't been extensively studied, reports 9 News in Colorado.

Running out of time, Bugal was faced with a choice: perform surgery that would save her own life while endangering Declan, or perform a cesarean that would save Declan's life but likely end her own. She chose the latter.

Dr. Kelly Gerow said that Bugal was able to ask about her son after the surgery. She later passed away.

Bugal's husband, Wes, said he doesn't yet know how he will tell the story to their newborn son and his older sister, who is a toddler.

"How do I explain to him that his mom is gone giving birth to him?" Bugal said to 9 News. "How do I explain when he asks where's mommy?"

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Bugals, and donations continue to pour in from those touched by their story.