A Sydney woman who was described as the 'picture of health' has died suddenly just weeks after giving birth to her third daughter. Cathy MacGuinness, 40, suffered a cardiac arrest on Easter Sunday, two weeks after welcoming baby Goldie.
Her husband, Sebastian Fletcher, performed CPR before paramedics rushed her to hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma. Despite medical efforts, she died from brain damage due to lack of oxygen, caused by an undiagnosed heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy.
Her sister-in-law, Gillian Binchy-MacGuiness, said the symptoms of the condition—extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and swollen limbs—were easily mistaken for the exhaustion common among new mothers. 'Any mum can relate to the fact that after you have a child, you don't ever get a full night's sleep,' she said.
Mrs MacGuinness leaves behind three daughters: Zoe, 7, Rosie, 3, and newborn Goldie. A GoFundMe page set up by family friend Jo Allen has raised over $185,000 to support Mr Fletcher as he navigates solo parenthood.
Mrs Binchy-MacGuiness urged other mothers to prioritise their own health and seek medical advice if they experience unusual symptoms. 'Sometimes as a mum it's the last thing you do, but mums need to make the space, time, and energy for themselves too,' she said.
