A New York mother-of-two died 48 hours after being rushed to a hospital in Queens for treatment for postpartum depression – but her family found out only after receiving a call from the hospital that doctors were performing an autopsy.
Denise Williams, 29, the mother of a three-year-old and a now-two-month-old was suffering from postpartum depression – not eating, acting strangely and refusing to get out of bed. In August, her mother, Linda Magee, decided to call 911.
But just two days after Williams checked in to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, Magee received a dreadful call that an autopsy was being performed on her daughter – who she had not known was dead, according to Pix 11.
New York mother-of-two Denise Williams (pictured) died 48 hours after being rushed to a hospital in Queens to receive treatment for postpartum depression. But her family only found out after receiving a call from the hospital that doctors were performing an autopsy
Williams’ mother, Linda Magee (pictured), called 911 back in August when she noticed her daughter was not eating, acting strangely and refused to get out of bed. Just two days after checking into NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, Magee received a dreadful call that an autopsy was being performed on her daughter, who she had not known was dead, she told Pix 11
‘They said, “Do you have a daughter named Denise Williams?” I said, “Yes, do you want me to come pick her up?” And they said, “No, I’m just calling to let you know she’s dead.”‘
The call was the first information Magee had received about her daughter since she was put in the hospital’s care.
‘I need answers, I need answers,’ the grieving mother told the news station.
Nearly two months after her death August 30, surviving family members still don’t have answers.
Pix 11 reported that the family also has yet to receive the autopsy report, or learn a cause of death.
Williams’ aunt Charlene Magee described being left in the dark: ‘I feel emotional. I feel hopeless. I feel anger.’
During the day, Charlene Magee takes care of Williams’ two young daughters. At night, Williams’ sister Belinda watches them.
Williams was a mother of two and her younger daughter was just eight weeks old when she died. The girls are now in the care of Williams’ aunt Charlene Magee (right, with Williams’s two-month-old daughter) and sister Belinda (left, with Williams’s three-year-old daughter)
Williams’s aunt Charlene Magee (right) described being left in the dark: ‘I feel emotional. I feel hopeless. I feel anger.’ Her sister Belinda (left) added: ‘We need answers. My nieces deserve answers’
Williams’ younger daughter was just eight weeks old when her mother died. ‘We need answers. My nieces deserve answers,’ Belinda told Pix 11.
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Williams’ mysterious death has taken a toll on the family and Belinda said: ‘Honestly, this is hard,’ adding that she was ‘trying to hold back tears’.
A spokesperson from the hospital said in a statement: ‘We are committed to providing quality, compassionate and safe care to all our patients and we will continue to communicate with the family as appropriate.’
The spokesperson allegedly told Pix 11 that the hospital has been communicating with Williams’ family.
Williams was rushed to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens (pictured). Just two days later Magee received a dreadful call that an autopsy was being performed on her daughter, who she had not known was dead
Charlene and Williams’ three-year-old daughter were spotted with other family members while protesting Williams’ mysterious death outside of the Queens hospital
As news of Williams’ death spread through the community dozens of people gathered outside of the city-run hospital to protest the case, which drew attention to a larger issue of Black maternal mortality, postpartum depression and the unequal treatment of Black women in health care
Williams’ daughter was pictured holding a poster filled with photos of her late mother
As news of Williams’ death spread through the community, dozens of people gathered outside of the city-run hospital to protest. The case drew attention to a larger issue of black maternal mortality, postpartum depression and the unequal treatment of black women in health care.
Charlene Magee and Williams’ three-year-old daughter were spotted, wearing shirts with pictures of the girl’s late mother and holding a poster with more photos of Williams.
Another poster read: ‘Justice 4 Denise.’
According to Pix 11, in the U.S. black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause than white women. In New York City, that figure is four times greater.
Charlene Magee even told the news station that Magee and her daughter requested that Williams be brought to another local hospital, where she felt safer, but paramedics denied her request.
The family is planning to host another justice rally next month as they continue waiting to receive the autopsy report, which will state Williams’s cause of death.
Charlene Magee told The City her family won’t stop fighting for black women who have died in NYC hospitals or their families.
‘We don’t want Denise to be ignored,’ she said. ‘We are going to be out here every day. You’re going to hear from our family.’
Source: Daily Mail
