Husband mourns wife who died from rare birth complication: ‘Completely shattered’

CHICAGO — A Chicago newlywed is in mourning after losing his wife to a rare pregnancy complication.

Speaking with WGN News about his wife Joslyn, who passed away less than a week ago, Ian Reed says he is ‘completely shattered’ and broken up about her passing.

“It was like we had this plan and now this plan is something completely different and it feels like everything I do, like even moving forward without her, is just impossible,” Reed said.

Still processing the tragic event, Reed said his wife was in her third trimester with their second little girl. He said the 38-year-old had been dealing with some concerns.

“We had a complicated pregnancy,” he said. “She had placenta previa, which means the placenta was blocking the cervix.” 

Doctors successfully performed a cesarean section, bringing baby Cohen into the world at 34 weeks old. 

“They had her open, took baby Cohen out, we both heard her cry and then her eyes just went up in her head,” Reed said. “Her blood pressure plummeted and they pulled me out of the room.”

If you wish to donate to the family’s GoFundMe, you may do so by clicking here

Joslyn had suffered an amniotic fluid embolism.

“Like one in 200,000 chance of that occurring,” Reed said.

An agonizing few days followed for her family and friends before final goodbyes had to be said. 

Joslyn’s best friend, Lejla Zeyadich, organized a GoFundMe for Ian, Cohen and older sister Zoey, who turned two on Tuesday.

“You just try to remember why you keep going and I know it’s those babies and I know it’s Ian,” Zeyadich said. “I mean, for the short time we were friends, I loved her so much.”  

Lejla, Joslyn and Ian met in 2016 while working at the popular Duck Duck Goat in Fulton Market.

“There were gatherings where she was like, ‘he’s cute’ and I was like, ‘go for it,’” Zeyadich said. “They just connected on another level and that made it so special.”

Just a few weeks ago, the couple tied the knot.

“When I was around her, I always just felt like I was home,” Reed said.

Now left reeling, the restaurant community, friends and family say they will do their best to support Reed and the kids. Reed says he is grateful for that act of kindness.

“People without that support and community, I can only imagine how much harder this would be,” Reed says, “because even with all that help and support and love, it feels impossible.”