"I actually thought that I'd been in a car accident or something. That was the only reasonable explanation," mom Marisa Christie tells US
- Shortly after Marisa Christie delivered three healthy baby girls last year, she faced a rare and life-threatening complication and was placed in a medically induced coma
- When she regained consciousness six days later, Marisa told PEOPLE she had no recollection of the birth, at first believing she had been in "a car accident or something," which seemed like the "only reasonable explanation for why I was no longer pregnant"
- Though she acknowledges that "some days are harder than others," Marisa is currently doing well — and is profoundly thankful for the support of doctors, family, and friends who assisted her family in their time of need
Months after Marisa Christie and her husband Dylan discovered they were expecting triplets, Dylan felt nervous about managing three newborns along with their 4-year-old son Grayson.
"I thought, oh my gosh, this is really happening," Dylan, 30, from Tomball, Texas, told PEOPLE. "As we got closer, I calmed down a bit. It's one of those situations where you can't completely prepare."
On the morning of August 21, 2024, when Marisa, 30, delivered healthy baby girls Charlotte, Kendall, and Collins via a planned cesarean section at Memorial Hermann the Woodlands Medical Center, Dylan finally felt at ease.
"I kissed Marisa and told her how proud I was of her," he remembers. "The doctors and nurses were congratulating us, we were sharing this wonderful moment together, and one of the nurses suggested, 'Dad, take pictures of the girls.'"
 |
| Marisa Christie. |
However, the photo never happened.Within moments, "Marisa seemed to levitate off the bed, both arms raised, and she made a sound; her vital signs became dangerously abnormal," says Dr. Amber Samuel, Marisa's maternal-fetal physician and medical director of Obstetrix Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists of Houston.
"She stopped breathing," adds Samuel, "and her heart stopped. That was the point when we identified it as an AFE (amniotic fluid embolism), because nothing else presents like that."
Amniotic fluid embolism is an extremely rare complication affecting 1 in every 40,000 deliveries. It occurs during or immediately after childbirth when amniotic fluid enters the mother's bloodstream, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Furthermore, AFE has a mortality rate as high as 80 percent, according to Samuel. "We don’t understand why it happens," the doctor says. "No one has ever figured it out."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
For the next 45 minutes, the medical team administered chest compressions, with Marisa experiencing multiple instances of flatlining. Dylan, filled with fear, described it as "the most frightening experience of my life."
Eventually, doctors placed Marisa on a life support system known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which circulated her blood through a heart-lung machine to sustain her. As previously reported by Today, Marisa also underwent a crucial hysterectomy due to uncontrolled bleeding.
 |
| Dylan and Marisa Christie with their triplets. |
Despite these efforts, uncertainty loomed over her survival and potential brain function.
"I couldn't sleep for weeks," her doctor disclosed to PEOPLE, adding, "I'm sure her husband couldn't either."
Marisa emerged from a medically-induced coma six days after childbirth with no recollection of the event. "I remember waking up with Dylan by my side, telling me our daughters were fine and had arrived," she shared with PEOPLE.
"I initially thought I had been in a car accident," she recalls, "It seemed the only plausible reason I was no longer pregnant. For a while, I felt like I was dreaming. It was terrifying."
 |
| Dylan and Marisa Christie in the hospital with their newborn triplets. |
After spending two weeks in the hospital, a frail Marisa slowly walked out amidst cheers from the hospital staff, although her long-term prognosis remained uncertain.
"We were unsure about potential brain damage, but with each passing day, we were filled with relief and gratitude for her steady recovery," Dylan added.
According to her doctor, Marisa has made remarkable progress and is "doing really well, as much as one can after such trauma," noting, "I think she's back to normal."
During their extended hospital stay, their church community, part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, along with extended family, took care of their 4-year-old son, Grayson. "Our church community has been our greatest support," Marisa expressed, adding, "We are fortunate to have such a strong support system."
Nearby residing Dylan's parents and close friends continue to provide assistance, including nightly visits to care for the triplets from 8 pm to midnight, ensuring the couple gets a guaranteed four hours of sleep, according to Marisa.
 |
| The Christie family triplets |
A weight training enthusiast, Marisa has regained enough strength to lift her children and has resumed her gym visits — which provide childcare — several times a week, always bringing along the triplets.
Naturally, they're already quite well-liked there," she mentions. "Everyone gets thrilled when the triplets make their way down the hall."
G |
| The Christie family |
However, recovering mentally from the birth has sometimes been challenging. "I was somewhat unaware of the potential outcomes before," Marisa explains. "And now, there's not a single day that passes without me reflecting on my hospital stay and my AFE."
When Marisa revisits the hospital, certain sounds and smells, like beeping monitors and hand sanitizer, can provoke her anxiety. "Some days are tougher than others. But for now, I'm managing fine," she reveals.
Big brother Grayson (center) with his triplet sisters before Christmas. Marisa struggles to express her deep gratitude for the doctors and hospital team's efforts that saved her life. "If it weren't for them," she states, "I don't think I'd be here today. The hospital staff was incredibly compassionate; we felt truly cared for."
A few days before Christmas, Marisa and Dylan organized a baby blessing at their church for the triplets, surrounded by aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, siblings, and numerous church friends.
"This Christmas was particularly special because I nearly didn't make it," Marisa remarks. "I am extremely thankful for that. Celebrating the holidays here has been wonderful.