Massachusetts dance teacher, 36, commits suicide after suffering from postpartum depression
A Massachusetts dance teacher took her own life amid intense postpartum depression just nine days after giving birth to twins.
Ariana Sutton, 36, died at her home in Norton, 40 miles southwest of Boston, on May 31, a week and a half after giving birth to her son Rowan and daughter Everly.
She previously suffered from severe postpartum depression when her daughter, Melody Ki, was born four years ago, and had to be treated in the emergency room.
But Sutton and her husband, Tyler, an officer with the Easton Police Department, decided they still wanted to expand their family, and had drugs and a plan in place, in case she was beset by further mental health problems.
Nevertheless, the speed of his wife’s decline after the birth of their twins surprised Tyler.
Ariana Sutton (left in black) committed suicide while battling postpartum depression just nine days after giving birth to her twins Rowan, a boy, and Everly, a girl
Sutton is pictured shortly after giving birth to her twins on May 22. She took her own life on May 31.
The loving mom proudly showed off her newborns to husband Tyler and daughter Melody Ki as the babies lay in an incubator. Sadly, Arianna won’t be around for the next few days to see them released from the hospital
“I didn’t think it would go so fast,” he said Boston 25 News. “She loved being a mother. It was her favorite thing in the world, and that (her death) has nothing to do with (the children). If she could, she would have stayed.’
The twins, a boy named Rowan and a girl named Everly, were born prematurely but are doing well and will be coming home from the hospital in the next few days. Tyler Sutton is now faced with the prospect of raising three children alone.
He said he wants to raise awareness of the terrible impact of postpartum depression, which he said was not widely understood.
“Let more people focus on it and recognize that it’s a real problem and it hasn’t been talked about enough,” he said.
“When we first experienced postpartum depression, we were in the dark. We were not prepared. We weren’t warned.’
His wife, who grew up in Easton before studying a BA in dance education at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, loved her job and her family.
Melody is pictured with Rowan and Everly. The youngsters are left without a mother as a result of last month’s tragedy
Tyler, pictured with his newborns, now faces the daunting prospect of raising his three children as a widower
She attended Starline Academy for the Performing Arts in Stoughton for five years and bought the dance school in 2013 with her sister, Rayna Flaherty.
“Ariana thrived by inspiring children with the joys of dance and was an avid animal lover,” her obituary reads.
“Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her daughter Melody.”
But Tyler Sutton said the cloud of depression persisted and she was ashamed of it.
“It was like a lingering shadow behind her that occasionally reminded her it had happened and made her feel ashamed,” he said.
He said the change in his wife after the birth of their children was shocking.
“It was so strange to see this sudden change. And that was noticeable.
“Like I said, we had a plan to get her on meds right away.”
Ariana and Tyler had been discussing the prospect of her depression returning when they decided to try for more children.
They were elated when she became pregnant with twins as it allowed the couple to welcome two more children with one pregnancy.
The couple had lined up a therapist and a psychiatrist and thought they were prepared.
After Melody was born, it took months for the worst postpartum depression to set in.
But this time it took days.
Ariana is pictured shortly after her birth with her eldest daughter Melody. The bond between mother and daughter is clear, although the new mother struggled with depression
Ariana and Tyler are pictured on their wedding day. Her husband is shocked by his wife’s sudden and tragic death
“We thought we had time,” Sutton said.
Gripping video clips shared by Tyler showed Sutton excitedly showing off her newborns in an incubator just days before her death.
Another older video shot shortly after Melody’s birth showed Sutton’s obvious joy in motherhood and the close bond she shared with her adorable daughter.
a GoFundMefounded to support the family, had raised $339,000 by Friday night.
“The weight of this tragedy is unimaginable, but together we can offer our love, strength and financial support to help this family through their challenging journey,” the organizers wrote.
Ariana, a vibrant and devoted mother, eagerly awaited the arrival of her twins, Everly Irene Sutton and Rowan Stephen Sutton.
“Unfortunately, their early arrival brought unforeseen challenges that put a huge strain on Ariana’s mental health.
Despite her relentless efforts to seek help, the burden of postpartum depression became too heavy to bear.
“Our hearts break for Ariana, her babies and the Sutton family as they face the unimaginable task of moving on without her.”