14-y-o dies giving birth - Mom says daughter paid fatally for one mistake

Christine Campbell prayed for a daughter for more than a decade and was overjoyed when her "little princess", Anna-Shay Campbell, was born 14 years ago. The two were inseparable, often seen together.

Anna-Shay became pregnant at the age of 13, but her ambition did not waver. "Even when she was with child, she was all about her education," Campbell said. "She would stay home, study, and complete school projects for other students."

The teen dreamt of a career in real estate, but tragically, Anna-Shay will never have the chance to achieve her dreams. The teenager died during childbirth at the Spanish Town Hospital on Tuesday. She didn't even get to meet her son, whom she lovingly nicknamed Peppa while still carrying him.

Devastated, Campbell stood outside the hospital gates on Thursday, her eyes filled with grief as she held up a plaque and demanded answers from the authorities. She is convinced that negligence led to her daughter's death.

"On Monday evening, when Shay was at the hospital, she was shaking, and told me that 'Peppa' was kicking her. I told the nurse. I said she couldn't bear the labour, so why make her go through it?" Campbell recalled.

The distraught mother explained that she had taken Anna-Shay to the hospital on Monday as she showed signs of labour. Anna-Shay was a day away from her due date, which would have been Tuesday, December 10. However, Campbell was told that doctors were on strike and advised to take her daughter home.

"When I brought her, they told me no doctors were working and that I should take her back home," Campbell said.

"I asked for a referral to KPH, but they said it didn't make sense because no doctors were working anywhere due to the islandwide strike. Three weeks ago, I had asked for a referral because I had been through childbirth at the same hospital, and I didn't want her to go through the same thing. So I went home, and she was still in pain. I started Googling how to deliver her myself. The pain got worse, so I brought her back to Spanish Town Hospital."

Upon her return, Campbell noticed some nurses were unfriendly towards Anna-Shay. She began praying for them and her daughter.

"I said, 'Anna, they're frowning upon you, but I'm praying for them and for you.' I signed a document for my daughter to get a C-section because her body was too small, and she couldn't bear the push. Imagine now, they told me my daughter died from very long and hard labour. They said her cervix was damaged. They said her vagina was destroyed," she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Campbell went on to share that her daughter had been impregnated by a 15-year-old schoolboy, a matter which was reported to the Child Protection and Family Services Agency. She described Anna-Shay as an exceptional child who excelled academically and was well-mannered.

"My daughter wasn't a bad child. A little 15-year-old got her pregnant, and both of them were two little nerds who tried something foolish. But I couldn't let my daughter have an abortion because that is not in me," Campbell said. "She was a soft child. The one time she strayed, and now she's paid for it fatally."

Campbell spoke proudly of her daughter's achievements, noting that Anna-Shay was a valedictorian at her primary school and remained on the honour roll while attending The Queen's School.

"Her dream was to be a real estate agent, and she also liked news reporting. She was a very good student," Campbell added.

On Tuesday, when Campbell received a call from the hospital, the thought of death never crossed her mind. But upon arriving, she knew something was seriously wrong.

"They called me and said I needed to rush to sign a paper for her to go into surgery. I thought she was just having the baby and more papers needed to be signed. When I arrived, they said she was already in the operating room. I signed the paper, but when the doctors came out, even though they were wearing masks, I saw death in their eyes. I ran out of the hospital in my slippers, but they caught me. They told me they did their best, but I knew my daughter was gone because I felt her leave my body. We were really close," Campbell said through tears.

Devastated, Campbell shared that she had not eaten or slept since her daughter's death.

"My daughter came to me in her spirit this morning [Thursday] and said, 'Mommy, come for me. Why did you bring me here and leave me?' She came into my bed and said that. I just ran out of my house from Johns Road to the hospital," a two-kilometre journey.

Jacqueline Ellis, CEO of Spanish Town Hospital, confirmed that a thorough investigation into the tragic incident is under way.

"We are providing full support and assistance to the affected family during this incredibly difficult time. We will continue to provide updates once more information becomes available," Ellis said.

"I would also like to offer my condolences to the family. I met with her mother this morning (Thursday), and the clinical team met with her yesterday (Wednesday). My condolences to her family and friends," she added.