Shelby Carter is being called a hero for saving her newborn daughter’s life.
When their house caught fire, she quickly put 10-day-old Keana in a car seat and dropped her out of a second-story window.
Firefighters and paramedics later found the baby safe on the ground, said Fire Captain Jake Plumer.
Rescue teams tried to save the 21-year-old mom who was stuck inside the house, but they couldn’t reach her in time.
Firefighters later found her in an upstairs bedroom, and she was declared dead.
An autopsy showed she died from breathing in too much smoke.
In a Facebook post, the fire department shared their sympathy and asked people to donate to help Carter’s family.
There are no words to explain what our community went through today. This is something no fire department ever wants to face. We can’t fully express how we feel.
Carter’s cousin, Shawna Burwell, said: “Yesterday was her 21st birthday, and on Facebook, she posted about how great it was. This morning on Snapchat, she shared ‘loving these mommy moments’ with a picture of the baby resting on her chest.
Carter’s obituary said she loved all children and they loved her back. Becoming a mom was the happiest moment of her life.
A GoFundMe page created to support her baby and family has raised over $30,000 by Saturday evening.
Plumer said, “It’s amazing to see how much support the community has given, not just to the family but to everyone affected by this tragedy. We’re proud and honored to be part of this community.”