Rutland mother and newborn twins die after life support is taken off

A new mother and her two newborns were all taken off life support Friday evening after fighting for their lives in hospital for the past two weeks.

Ciara Sullivan of Rutland, the wife of Rutland firefighter Patrick Sullivan, and her nearly two-week-old twin babies have been taken off life support, according to her husband’s Facebook post.

“Tonight was terrible. “James Michael and Elizabeth Joanne passed away quietly and peacefully with their mother Ciara Joanne,” Sullivan posted Saturday morning. “I cannot explain the utter devastation, rage, anger and loss this unnecessary tragedy has brought me.”

Sullivan added that he feels “truly blessed” by the amount of “outpouring” of support he has received, including from the Rutland Fire Department.

“The Department’s Chief (Seth Knipe) regrets to announce the sudden deaths of Firefighter Patrick Sullivan’s wife of 30 years, Ciara, and their 11-day-old twins, James and Elizabeth,” the Rutland Fire Department released Saturday morning. “Ciara was a dedicated public servant who previously worked as a 911 dispatcher and currently serves as an emergency management specialist for FEMA.”

According to Rutland Regional Emergency Communication, which has posted updates about the Sullivan family on its Facebook page over the past two weeks, Sullivan was hospitalized on Dec. 16 after suffering a “medical emergency.”

The Sullivans “are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their twins and the joy of becoming parents for the first time,” one post said.

Sullivan was taken to the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where she was intubated, according to a fundraiser raising money to support the family. Her twins were delivered prematurely through an emergency cesarean section and had to be ventilated.

Patrick Sullivan spoke to Boston 25 News from the hospital Thursday night and said the prognosis after two weeks was “not good.”

According to a Facebook post from Rutland Regional Emergency Communication, Sullivan has served Rutland as a dispatcher and firefighter/paramedic for more than 13 years.

A fundraiser organized by the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts Foundation had raised more than $74,000 as of Saturday morning, far exceeding the original goal of $5,000.

People gathered in Rutland for a vigil at the community center on Thursday evening to support Patrick and his family.

A few hours after Thursday evening’s vigil, the Rutland Fire Department informed the community of devastating news via Facebook.

“Our hearts are shattered as we share the heartbreaking news that Ciara and her babies will be removed from life support on Friday,” the fire department wrote in the post. “Please keep Pat and the entire family in your prayers during this unimaginably difficult time… PAT, BUDDY, WE LOVE YOU AND WE STAND BY YOUR SIDE.”

People can donate to the family’s fundraiser here.