Just when this family thought they were through the worst, tragedy struck again.

This story is miraculous and heartbreaking in equal measure.

A Port Macquarie woman who gave birth to her baby prematurely in Fiji a few weeks ago, has lost her husband just days after arriving back in Australia.

Jayne Wren and her husband Ashley, were holidaying in Fiji for a friend’s wedding when Jayne unexpectedly started to give birth in the back of a taxi.

Jayne described the experience as “horrendous”, telling Daily Mail Australia that  she was “so fearful that our baby would die.”

Maddison Jayne Cazna Wren was born on May 31 at 33 weeks, weighing 1.7kg – but after her miraculous birth, the new parents were faced with another dilemma: Their travel insurance did not cover the cost of having a baby in Fiji, or of bringing the baby home which required a doctor-assisted trip.

At the time Mrs Wren told The Daily Telegraph, that they were “living day by day” in Fiji.

“When she was born, the hospital asked us whether we had any clothes for her to wear. My husband just started crying and said ‘we don’t have anything’. We had no idea she’d be so early,” she said.

Jayne and Ashley started an online campaign to help raise money, so that they could bring their family – and their new baby – home. The community of Port Macquarie, friends and family rallied around the couple – and they soon raised $20,000.

A few weeks after baby Maddi was born, on June 19, they were able to fly the family home.

And here is where the story should have ended: with Jayne, Ashley and their newborn, back in Australia surrounded by friends and family. Safe. Secure. Happy.

But one week after they arrived back in Australia, Ashley had a heart attack and died.

The family wrote on their fundraising website:

For those of you who have followed the story of little Maddi born unexpectedly at 33 weeks in Fiji, you will know that Maddi is safely back in Australia and growing beautifully. In a tragic turn of events, Maddi’s father, and loving husband to Jayne suffered a heart attack last Friday and passed away. Ashley was a healthy 41-year-old triathlete who had spent just 27 days with his adorable little girl. Along with the expenses relating to Maddi’s stay in hospital, we are now seeking to raise funds to provide for Maddi and Jayne. Ashley was the family provider and was in the process of applying for a Life Insurance Policy two hours prior to his passing. Jayne is in no position to return to work anytime soon and in her grief, we are looking to provide financial relief to enable her to care for Maddi and heal her crushed and broken heart.

The family raised $20,000 to help bring Maddi back to Australia. Since Ashley’s death, that number has reached $47,000.

Ashley Wren, a high school teacher, was a much-loved member of his community. And just as support had flowed in when the couple needed help to bring their baby home, the community has again rallied around Jayne and baby Maddi.

The Daily Mail reports:

Family and friends have since taken to social media to pay tribute to an ‘inspirational man’ who was much-loved by his community.

‘The tears flow and words escape us in disbelief,’ one friend wrote.

‘Wish I could turn back time for you,’ another posted on the mother’s Facebook page…

Jayne described her husband as ‘the love of my life’ in a caption on a Facebook photo.

The Wren family have been through so much — and our thoughts are with Jayne and Maddi from here.

To visit their fundraising page, visit Maddi and Jayne at MyCause.com.au. 

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