Queens woman dies 2 weeks after giving birth to twins by C-section. Her family wants answers.
A grieving family in Queens wants answers after a young woman died two weeks after giving birth to twins.
They believe it was due to complications with her C-section.
"When she came home from the hospital, nobody reached out"
Tenisha Evans' family says the 24-year-old gave birth to two baby boys, Angel and Liam, in January at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway. She had a C-section and was sent home after.
For two weeks, she was enjoying being a first-time mom, but the family says 15 days after the C-section, she was found unresponsive in her bed. Evans was rushed to St. John's, where she died.
"I just want my daughter back. That was my best friend," Evans' mother, Lynette Williams, said. "It's like, my other half is gone."
Her family believes her death is connected to C-section complications, but they say they have not been able to get any answers from the hospital.
"When she came home from the hospital, nobody reached out, [asked] 'how's Tenisha doing?' Nothing," Williams said.
"Nobody should be sending their child, their daughter, their cousin, their niece to the hospital thinking it's safe, and they're not going to come home," cousin Jaleesa McCrimmon said.
A spokesperson for the hospital told CBS News New York they cannot comment because of HIPAA laws, adding, "We assure the public that our organization continually monitors patient outcomes and strives to improve our services."
Evans' twins are now 10 weeks old, being raised by their grandmother.
Advocates pushing for passage of Grieving Families Act
New York City health data shows an average of 20 women die annually from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes, with Black and Brown women disproportionately affected.
Back in February, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams launched a Maternal Health Steering Committee which she says will confront the maternal mortality crisis in the city. Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala is on the committee.
"We've been actively meeting, trying to gather recommendations and seeing where should we be channeling our focus," Ayala said.
While there is no immediate solution for expecting mothers and grieving families, many who CBS News New York recently talked with are pushing for the passage of the Grieving Families Act, which would allow families of wrongful death victims to receive compensation.
"Anything that is awarded is going to be for the kids, because it doesn't include the wrongful death statute," attorney Maria Morano said. "They cannot be compensated for their grief, for their loss, the fact that they're raising these children."
Advocates say they will continue to fight for those mothers who are no longer here.
Lawmakers in the city say this is not a city issue and that they need the help of state and federal partners, too.
The council speaker released a statement saying, "Speaker Adams' deepest condolences are with the family of Tenisha Evans, who shouldn't have to be grieving the loss of their loved one."
