Newborn to be taken off life support after mom dies during birth

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Matthew Jr., the local newborn whose mother died during childbirth, will soon be taken off life support after several serious complications, the family's pastor and father confirmed Tuesday. 

The baby's father, Matthew Accurso, is asking for prayers while the family deals with this latest hardship, adding that his son will soon be reunited with his mother.

"I would be so grateful for your prayers in the coming days as we work with the doctors and medical staff and plan to see Matthew off to his mommy and Heavenly Father,” he wrote on Facebook.

Lauren Accurso had already given birth to three girls when she got pregnant with Matthew Jr. She died unexpectedly, leaving loved ones to call her son's survival a miracle.

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In a Facebook post Tuesday, Accurso and family pastor Matt McCloghry shared an emotional update on the baby's prognosis, and thanked everyone for their support in this trying time.

"Matthew is a living miracle," Accurso wrote. "See, Matthews coming into the world was far from normal. The minute his mommy took her last breath Matthew was thrust from the most peaceful world one could ever know into a chaotic frenzy to save his mother and him. Without an ounce of oxygen he made it in an ambulance, to an emergency room, through an emergency c-section and into a NICU. Matthew then defied all odds and opened his eyes, breathed on his own, pumped blood through his strong heart, moved his limbs without rigidity and even made coo noises. His body slowly began to function, and he even gripped my finger when from what we were told, that should have been impossible."

As Matthew Jr. and his father continue to bond in the neonatal intensive care unit, their pastor and their church are praying endlessly.

A donation account was created to support the Accurso family. As of Tuesday evening, $158,906 had been raised.