Pregnant influencer in coma ‘for foreseeable future’ after aneurysm ruptured one week before due date

Jackie Miller James remains in an induced coma after an aneurysm in her brain ruptured one week before she was due to give birth.

A week before Jackie Miller James was due to give birth, an aneurysm in her brain ruptured.

The 35-year-old social media influencer was put in a medically-induced coma and had to undergo an emergency C-section to save her daughter’s life.

Twelve days after the incident, James’ family has shared an update on her health via Instagram.

“While her baby girl is now healthy and home from the NICU, Jackie will remain in the hospital for the foreseeable future,” her sisters Nicelle and Natalie posted to her account earlier this week.

“The past few weeks have been incredibly heartbreaking, however the immense outpouring of love, support and generosity from family, friends, followers and strangers has been wildly touching and meaningful for Jackie’s family.”

The sisters wrote that the family remains “dedicated to securing optimal care for the highest quality of life for Jackie following this tragic event”.

They have also set up a GoFundMe page to cover care costs – “in addition to what insurance can cover” – on her “long road to recovery”.

Jackie suffered a haemorrhagic stroke one week before her due date. Picture: Instagram.

The sisters celebrated Jackie’s baby showers a week before the aneurysm. Picture: Instagram

The funds are expected to help pay for speech and physical therapy, home modifications and any “alternative therapies once we realise the severity of her deficits”.

Remaining funds will be donated to families in similar circumstances or related charities.

The page has raised more than A$466,000 (more than US$300,000) since it was set up on May 31.

“Jackie is the kindest, funniest, most caring and special soul … she deserves to be a mum,” he sisters wrote on Instagram.

“Her daughter needs to know her. Her husband needs to hold her. Jackie was so excited to be a mum and start a family, and we are determined to help her fulfil that dream.”

Jackie shared her pregnancy with her 70K Instagram followers. Picture: Instagram

She gave birth to a baby girl via emergency C-section. Picture: Instagram

According to the sisters, James’ husband found her “immediately” after she suffered the aneurysm, which led to severe brain bleeding and injury.

She was rushed to hospital where, the sisters said, doctors performed “an emergency C-section and brain surgery simultaneously” to save their sister and niece.

“If Jackie and the baby arrived a few minutes later at the hospital, we likely would have lost both of them,” they wrote on the GoFundMe page.

In the 12 days since the aneurysm, Jackie underwent at least five separate brain procedures while her daughter recovered from her “traumatic” birth in the neonatal intensive care unit.

But the mum did get a chance to meet her new daughter while in a coma and her sisters shared a photo of the beautiful moment to the GoFundMe page.

Jackie and her husband, Austin (left), have welcomed their daughter. Picture: Instagram, GoFundMe

An aneurysm is caused by a weakening in the wall of a blood vessel, which can occur in a blood vessel anywhere in the body, including the brain.

An aneurysm that ruptures in the brain can cause haemorrhagic stroke – or bleeding on the brain – which can be life threatening, according to Health Direct.

The site also reports aneurisms are more common in adults and in female.

A March 2023 study from obstetrics and gynaecology researchers at the University of Texas found pregnant people are at an increased risk of an aneurysm rupture.

The symptoms of a haemorrhagic stroke can appear suddenly and can include a severe headache, vision impairment, vomiting, neck pain, difficulty moving or feeling, losing consciousness.