Pregnant mother dies

STYX RIVER, Ala. - After the Styx River Baptist Church Sunday service ended, Carol Young, her husband, and their 18-month-old son went to lunch.

As they were driving, Carol's heart suddenly stopped beating and she lost consciousness. Carol was 9 months pregnant and expecting to deliver a baby girl in just a couple of weeks.

Members of her church said she was incredibly involved. She was the Sunday school teacher and organizer of the homecoming service.

Her pastor, Randy Sirmon, said there were no signs that anything was wrong.

"She was fine Sunday morning. She was here at church and involved in that. She was singing and getting onto little Alvin for cutting up, like all mothers do. You never would have thought anything like this would take place within 15 - 20 minutes down the road."

Emergency responders weren't able to revive Carol, but they were able to save her baby.

Three-day-old Emily Young was treated for brain damage among other things at USA Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile.

Pastor Sirmon said the baby is getting better everyday and doctors are optimistic that she may be able to grow out of the damage.

Carol had a conversation with Pastor Sirmon's wife just days before she suddenly died. He remembered some of the things Carol said.

"She said she was the happiest woman in the world. She had a loving husband, a beautiful son, a little girl on the way in jut a few weeks, and most of all she loved the Lord. She told my wife, she said if I die today, I'll be the happiest woman in the world."

Sirmon thinks this was the Lord's way of communicating to them that she was spiritually ready to go.

Carol was in charge of the church's homecoming service that is scheduled for this Sunday.

She was in the process of teaching all of the children the hymns that they will sing. When one of her students heard the news, he asked, "Well, now who is going to teach us our songs?"

The church plans to celebrate the service in honor of Carol Young Sunday, October 3.

They have also set up a charity fund to help pay for burial costs and medical bills. Church members and relatives told us prayer is the best way to help the family. However, baby supplies and monetary donations will also be needed.