Margaret Tongiatama went for a nap on the day her third child was due – but she and her unborn baby never woke up, leaving behind a shattered young family

A Brisbane woman who went for a nap on the day her third baby was due never woke up. Her death and that of her unborn child devastated her young family.

Margaret Tongiatama, 38, and her unborn baby Kariya died suddenly on April 11 while she slept at her home, stunning her loved ones and doctors.

Her husband Edward said his wife had a medical appointment just two days before the lives of him and his daughters Ayla-Sialei and Zana Mary changed forever.

That conversation with a midwife “went well,” Mr Tongiatama told the newspaper Courier mailwhile his wife and the baby were apparently in good health.

He had taken a week off work and gone for a walk with Margaret, known to her friends as Magz, to help get the impending birth started.

On the afternoon the baby was due, they had lunch, after which Mrs. Tongiatama said she was tired and lay down.

When he went to check on her 20 minutes later, Mr Tongiatama discovered that his wife was not breathing.

He called triple-0 and started CPR, but said ‘she was just gone’.

Mr Tongiatama shouted at a man skateboarding in his street who turned out to be an off-duty paramedic.

“He immediately sprang into action, found his way to the house and helped me with CPR until the ambulance arrived shortly afterwards,” Mr Tongiatama said.

But they couldn’t save Margaret.

“We’re still going through all the tests to see what happened to her, but it’s not clear,” her devastated husband said.

The couple had been married at short notice on January 6 when Mrs Tongiatama’s father suddenly fell ill.

They were saving for a big wedding, but when her father had only weeks to live, they planned it all in just three days so he could fulfill her wish to walk his daughter down the aisle.

“We organized Margaret’s father’s funeral and were in Melbourne to help her mother grieve (and) we came back to our home in Warner four weeks before Margaret and Kariya passed away.”

Mrs. Tongiatama’s best friend Sialei has one GoFundMe for the family.

She said: “This is an incredible loss not only for the Tongiatama, Alama and Sili Samuelu families, but for everyone who was fortunate enough to know and love Magz.”

“Magz’s dear father also passed away just a few months ago, and as you can imagine, her family is still grieving this loss.”

The fundraiser organizer added: ‘Family was so important to Magz, and the financial burden this places on her husband and family is something we’d like to help take off their plate.’

One of the people who donated to the family wrote that “Magz always lit up any room she was in.”

Margaret Tongiatama (right) is pictured with her husband, Ed, and their children Ayla-Sialei and Zana Mary

“She had a wonderful spirit and will be sadly missed. My condolences to your family at this time.”

Mr Tongiatama said the day his wife and unborn child died was also Sialei’s birthday and Magz had organized a big surprise for her outside of work.

She also organized many events, flights and accommodation for her large Samoan family.

“This has left a huge hole in everyone’s lives,” he said.