Sarah Harkins Stings Kill Pregnant Christian Mother of 4: Family Asks for Prayer
A 32-year-old pregnant mother of four is dead after having an allergic reaction to wasp stings. Her family has asked for prayers while they grieve the loss.
Sarah Harkins was in her backyard in Virginia on Sunday, when she was stung by several wasps and had an allergic reaction.
"She fell unconscious and went to the hospital, and it was discovered there was a brain aneurysm, and during the trauma of it all, it burst and caused her death," Sarah's brother Tom Schulzetenberg told NBC. "It's something that you never really prepare for. We're doing our best to hold each other up."
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Sarah homeschooled her four children, made rosary beads, blogged about her life on the Clay Rosary Girl, and was eagerly expecting her new baby girl. She also led a Bible study for parish homeschool mothers and volunteered at Mary's Shelter crisis pregnancy center. Unfortunately, Sarah's death caused the loss of her unborn daughter, leading to a double loss for the family. The unborn baby girl was named Cecilia.
"With Sarah gone, [her husband] Eric is not equipped to do this by himself," Tom added.
The family has set up multiple donation sites for the children. The littlest girl, Faustina, was born with Down syndrome, which requires a great deal of medical care and treatment. The donations, which have reportedly come in from around the world, will help provide for the children (Liam, 7; Analee, 5; Jude, 3; Faustina, 1) and cover funeral expenses.
NBC has reported that donations have totaled over $158,000 and have come from everywhere including France, Japan, and Germany. The family is completely grateful for the support they have received but know that there is more to be done.
"Her passing was so tough, because I love her so much," Eric told the Free Lance-Star. "She's a gift that was given from God; He knows that I needed her and she was this amazing gift."
"Pray for the children. Pray for Eric. Pray for peace and strength for them," Tom told NBC.
