It was supposed to be the happiest day of Georgia Macey’s life but it nearly turned out to be her last.
Instead of marrying fiancé Luke Finch before their first child was born, Georgia was put into a medically induced coma and was desperately clinging to life on a ventilator.
Her condition was rapidly deteriorating as she battled Covid-19, having decided against getting vaccinated due to “confusing advice” for expectant mums at the time.
Luke came to her bedside in his wedding suit on the day he should have been walking her down the aisle.
Their daughter Eliza, delivered by emergency caesarean six weeks early, was on another floor of the hospital in neonatal intensive care.
Georgia, 30, said: “It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life, but I was told I’d have to be put into a coma. I didn’t know if I’d ever wake up and see my daughter again.
“We didn’t have a choice, the doctors said I was in the worst position I could be in, and 90% of my lungs were damaged.
“It was devastating, my fiancé came to visit me in hospital in his wedding suit, but I wasn’t getting better, and I had to be put on a ventilator.”
After 10 days in a coma, Georgia pulled through but her condition, and hospital visiting policies at the time, meant she could not meet her daughter until she was five weeks old.
The moment when she finally held baby Eliza for the first time was captured in moving photos by Luke, 32.
Georgia said: “It was extremely emotional. I was still very weak, it was difficult to hold her, but it was the best feeling in the world to finally meet her.”
The proud mum has since had two Covid jabs and urges other pregnant women to get fully vaccinated.
She said: “I almost missed out on the chance to meet my daughter by not getting it.”
People in her age group could book their first Covid vaccine dose from May last year. She sought advice after having her whooping cough vaccine at four months pregnant in June.
But she said she was given an out-of-date leaflet saying there was not yet enough research supporting the jab.
The couple decided against the vaccine, wanting “what was best for our baby”. The NHS strongly recommends pregnant and breastfeeding women get vaccinated against Covid-19. Georgia now regrets the decision.
Luke and Georgia, who met as teenagers and had been dating for two years, got engaged in July at Lulworth Cove, Dorset.
They planned an “intimate wedding” with 26 guests at a manor house in Surrey at the end of September.
But a fortnight before the big day Georgia started feeling tired, was coughing constantly and could not keep food down. Although a home lateral flow test was negative she felt she should see a doctor.
On September 17, she called 111 and was advised to go straight to Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Guildford, where she tested positive for coronavirus.
The next day Eliza, whose heart rate had rapidly increased, was delivered weighing 5lbs 8oz. Georgia said: “I was so relieved when I heard Eliza’s little cry. I knew she was alive, but I couldn’t hold her because I had Covid and we didn’t want her to catch it. I barely got to see her before she was taken away, it was awful.”
Luke described leaving his fiancée and newborn at the hospital as “the worst time of my life.” He said: “Not being able to be with Eliza and watching Georgia’s condition deteriorate was heartbreaking knowing I might not see either of them again.”
The nurses brought Georgia blankets Eliza had slept in, so she could feel closer to her daughter, and put up photos of her up in her room.
Eliza went home with Luke on October 1. After 10 days in a coma, Georgia regained consciousness but was weak and delirious – and even had to relearn how to walk. She was in isolation until October 24.
Finally she was reunited with Luke and met Eliza. She was discharged on November 9 but still has to battle blood clots and no longer has a working spleen.
She and Luke married on February 24, with Eliza a bridesmaid. Georgia said: “It was a very emotional day. Eliza was only five months old so slept most of the time, but it was amazing having her there with us.”
Georgia still has regular checks on her heart and lungs, but she and Eliza are at home and “thriving”.
Luke said: “I couldn’t be any more proud of them and how well they have done since.”
All pregnant women have been eligible for the Covid vaccine since April 16 last year. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Extensive real-world data shows vaccines are safe and highly effective for pregnant women.”
