New Mom, 32, Dies After Gym Workout While on Maternity Leave From Brain Aneurysm

A Sydney woman on maternity leave died after a brain aneurysm killed the “ambitious and full of life” new mom.

Kali Blundell, 32, suffered a sudden brain aneurysm in mid-April, The Australian reports, while working out at a gym five months after giving birth. She died a week later, leaving behind Brandon, her husband and high school sweetheart whom she’d known since she was 15, and Ruby, her five-month-old daughter.

The outlet reports that Blundell’s organs were donated to five people.

A brain aneurysm is a bulge, or “ballooning,” in a blood vessel in your brain, Mayo Clinic explains, caused by thinning artery walls. Although they generally are asymptomatic, “if an aneurysm ruptures, it can quickly become life-threatening and requires emergency treatment.”

Family and friends established a GoFundMe to support the family amid the sudden tragedy.

“Kali was on maternity leave, meant to be one of the most joyous occasions when she suffered a brain aneurysm. She continued to fight for over a week being cared by an incredible team of Doctors and Nurses, but unfortunately couldn’t fight anymore,” read a description.

“Brandon and Ruby should have so many more years with Kali, and now face an incredibly heart breaking new reality without her here,” it continued

The fundraiser remembered Blundell as “ambitious and full of life” and “one of the firsts to say yes to spontaneity, embracing the world with open arms and travelling across to globe to take everything in.”

“Kali was incredibly smart, and someone you could turn to for advice,” the GoFundMe stated. “She worked incredibly hard and never shied away from a challenge.”

“Her loss has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of all who loved her.”