Tragedy as new mum dies suddenly while breastfeeding her baby daughter
Deanna Rose Gioia, from Staten Island, US was cradling two-month-old tot Adrianna in her arms
A NEW mum has tragically died suddenly while breastfeeding her two-month-old daughter.
The family of Deanna Rose Gioia was left devastated when, just moment's after telling husband Richard "I don't feel well" on Sunday, seconds later she was unresponsive.
She died holding her daughter Adrianna, who was eight weeks old on Tuesday.
Deanna, 35, from Staten Island, New York, was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, but was pronounced dead when she arrived.
Her mother, Debbie DiSalvatore, told : "Just like that, she was gone."
Deanna, a popular nurse, was in good health and didn't have an complications with Adrianna's birth.
Her family are now anxiously waiting on an autopsy report, as her death remains a mystery.
Speaking on the radio station about her beloved daughter, Debbie said she was a natural nurse, and had looked after her granddad was dying.
She added Deanna had put off college to make a decision on what she wanted to do and it was then she joined Staten Island University Hospital North.
Spending time as a patient liaison officer made her realise she wanted to go to nursing school.
Deanna'ss friend Michelle Paini told the station: "She saw that the ER is like a family and the care they give is incredible.
"She saw staff there - all the doctors, all the nurse - what they did for people, and she wanted to do that."
Deanna met husband Richard when they worked in a supermarket as teenagers.
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However it wasn't until they saw each other again nine years later they fell in love, and got married in 2011.
Debbie said of their love for each other: ";He was her prince charming.
"He would do anything for her.
"He made her life perfect.
"A love like that you don't see between two people.
"Everyone who was at their wedding said that to me."
Their daughter's name is an amalgamation of both of their christian names and Debbie added her birth was the happiest day of Deanna's life.
Friends and family have created a page for Adrianna, which has so far raised more than $60,000 - $43,000 of that was raised in just 24 hours.
The site says: "The world lost an amazing woman that made everyone she was around better.
"Deanna was a nurse both inside and outside of the hospital, always helping anyone in need.
"She was the friend who held the group together, always having everyone's back.
"We would like to help Richie take care of Adrianna financially so he can give her everything he and Deanna would have.
"This is our chance to give back to Richie and Adrianna, everything that Deanna gave to us."