Catarina Sequeira, 26, gave birth to a little boy named Salvador during a C-section yesterday at almost 32 weeks. He weighed just 3.75 lb and is being cared for in a neonatal hospital, reports BBC News. A canoeist who had competed internationally for her country, Ms Sequeira suffered an acute asthma attack at her home. She was put into a medically induced coma but her condition deteriorated and she was declared brain dead on 26 December. She was 19 weeks pregnant at the time. A ventilator kept her breathing for the rest of her pregnancy.
Portugal's organ donation laws played a role in the decision to continue the pregnancy. Under the country's law of presumed consent, a person must opt-out of organ donation rather than sign up for it."Being a donor is not just about being in a position to donate a liver or heart or lung, but also being in a position to give yourself so a child can live," hospital ethics adviser Felipe Almeida said."And no-one has the right to interrupt the mother's decision process."The baby's father also wanted the baby to be born. Ms Sequeira's funeral took place today.