THE MUM of a Torfaen woman who suffered brain damage after having a heart attack during childbirth has thanked family and friends for their support after a “nightmare” month.

Shannon Everett, of Talywain, was giving birth to her son at the Royal Gwent on the last day of October when she was struck by a rare complication that reportedly affects one in 20,000 mothers – an Amniotic Fluid Embolism.

While the 22-year-old and her baby, Nico, survived the ordeal, the damage to her brain – after more than an hour of CPR from doctors – has left with sight difficulties, memory loss and the inability to walk.

To help support the mum-of-two’s family and fiancée, friend Beckie Forrest has set up a JustGiving page - which has already raised £312 - and has planned several fundraising events.

"She was a really kind, giving person and it’s a shame this has had to happen to someone like her. I know her fiancé Ioan absolutely idolised her. They were inseparable”.

Mum, Nicola Jane Everett, said that Shannon has been described as a "miracle" by doctors with the family visiting twice a day, every day.

While baby Nico is now back home with family after spending time at a Neo Natal unit, doctors are unaware how long he was left with out oxygen and what long-term affects it could have, she said.

"Her last words before she had the cardiac arrest were 'I love you mummy', it was breaking my heart," she said.

"A team of 25 doctors were called from accident and emergency and we were lucky that theatre was already on standby”.

“It was a heck of a shock. If it hadn’t been for them, we would have lost her”.

"It was 68 minutes in total they were working on her doing CPR and managed to get a faint pulse and she was opening her eyes.

"It was horrendous. I turned around and said ‘please don’t give up on her. If you do I’ll do it myself”.

“When she woke up she wanted me and was calling and crying for me. It was amazing”.

The mum-of-seven added that Shannon had been with her fiancée for six years and that the family were planning to help them get married after Nico was born.

“We’re taking each day as it comes but we said, that whatever it takes, we will get them down the aisle. That’s what family do".

Shannon' is expected to be moved to the Rockwood Hospital in Cardiff and her mum said it could take up to three months for the brain to return key functions with the young mum "having to re-learn everything all over again".

She added despite a "nightmare month", support from the community has "brought back her faith in humanity".

"The world we live in is so flipping cruel and people you don’t even know are wanting to help. I’m just blown away," she said.

“We have a long road ahead as she’s not able to do anything.Our life is not normal anymore. It’s going to be a ‘new normal’.”

Shannon' is expected to be transferred to the Rockwood Hospital in Cardiff and her mum said it could take up to three months for the brain to return key functions.

To support the Everett family, donate here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rebecca-forrest-1