Devastation over Nudgee mum Olivia Harlow, daughter Adeline Stephenson’s deaths one week apart

A Queensland family has been left devastated and in disbelief after the mysterious deaths of a young mum and daughter just one week apart.

Olivia Harlow with her partner Ryan Stephenson and their first daughter Evaliah. Picture: Supplied

A Queensland family has been left devastated and in disbelief after the mysterious deaths of a young mum and daughter just one week apart.

Olivia Harlow was 25 and “perfectly healthy”, according to her family, before she died of unknown causes on June 24.

Her death came just eight days after her second daughter, Adeline, was stillborn at 37 weeks.

The family turned off Olivia’s life support two days after her partner Ryan Stephenson found her unresponsive at their home.

Sister-in-law Stefanie Harlow said it still was all “a little bit of a mystery”.

“We feel numb and are in disbelief of it all,” she said. “It’s like living a nightmare.”

Olivia’s father David Harlow said they were absolutely devastated by the sudden and unexpected losses.

“There were no signs of anything, she was super fit,” he said.

Mr Harlow said Olivia had been “a little bit fatigued” about 32 weeks into her pregnancy but they thought that was normal.

She then later raised concerns about blurred vision and headaches at 34 or 35 weeks’ gestation.

Olivia’s pregnancy had been classed as high-risk by that stage, but Mr Harlow said they had no idea that the outcome could be so catastrophic.

A scan the day before Olivia’s death revealed multiple growths in her brain and lungs, which her family claimed were not present in her previous scan 26 days earlier.

The family was now waiting for answers while coronial investigations into Olivia’s death continued.

Olivia Harlow died just eight days after her daughter Adeline was still born. Picture: Supplied

Ms Harlow described Olivia as a caring mother who loved her family deeply.

“Liv was pure at heart and was always there for everyone especially in times of need,” Ms Harlow said.

“She always helped out her elderly grandparents, brothers, nieces and nephews.”

Mr Harlow said Olivia was a country girl at heart, having grown up in Kilcoy northwest of Brisbane.

He said his daughter had always been fit and healthy and excelled at sports in school.

“She was everything … the perfect package,” he said.

“If you had to describe a living Barbie doll, she was it.”

“Not only was she good looking, tall, talented – but she was just a great mother.”

Olivia leaves behind her partner Ryan and four-year-old daughter Evaliah.

She had been a stay-at-home mum since Evaliah’s birth, as Ryan had a fly-in-fly-out job.

“She loved being a mother … loved kids,” Mr Harlow said.

Olivia Harlow with her niece Shania. Picture: Supplied

Before giving birth to Evaliah, Olivia had worked as a nanny in western Queensland.

Mr Harlow said the young couple only recently moved back to Brisbane after living interstate for Ryan’s work.

He said they had been excited to return and be closer to family for Adeline’s birth.

Mr Harlow and his ex-wife separated when Olivia was young and she never wanted that for herself, he said.

“She was happy with Ryan … Her life was just based around making the perfect home,” he said.

Ms Harlow said Ryan was “understandably quite emotional and overwhelmed with it all.”

“Everyone is really struggling to come to terms with it because it just happened so quickly,” she said.

“We weren’t expecting it at all … I don’t think until the funeral it will sort of really set in for everybody.

Olivia’s family will be flying into Brisbane from all across the country for Olivia’s funeral next Monday, July 15.

Olivia Harlow with family at sister-in-law Stefanie Harlow's wedding. Picture: Supplied

Ms Harlow said that losing Adeline had been an extra blow to the family.

She and Olivia had both been pregnant at the same time and were due to give birth a week apart.

“I had my daughter the day after we turned off (Olivia’s) life support,” Ms Harlow said.

“I’ve actually never seen my husband cry until this … It’s really rocked him.”

She described the new baby as the “light at the end of the tunnel” for him.

Ms Harlow set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the funeral which has raised nearly $20,000 in just over a week.

Ms Harlow said some of the funds would go towards helping Ryan start over fresh in a new area.

He would also need to find a new job now that he was single parent to Evaliah, Ms Harlow said.

“We’re going to be putting any remaining funds into a trust fund for her (Evaliah) as well.” she said.

Ms Harlow said the support they had received so far had been “incredible”.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation,” she said.