“We were brimming with joy at the prospect of having twins. Her happiness was beyond words.”
In 2018, at the age of 36, Ariana Sutton welcomed a healthy baby girl into the world, filling the family with overwhelming joy as they embraced parenthood for the first time. However, amidst the anticipation of happiness that surrounded them, Ariana found herself facing a challenge that many new mothers encounter: postpartum depression.
This condition is much more prevalent than commonly assumed, affecting approximately 1 in 10 women who give birth. Ariana’s husband, Tyler Sutton, a police officer in Massachusetts, stated that his wife had never encountered any mental health issues before the birth. However, after Melody’s arrival, it became evident that Ariana was struggling.
“We were both unaware of the magnitude of this issue,” Tyler explained. “One morning, I came home, and the person sitting in front of me seemed like a stranger. That’s when we decided to take our daughter to her grandmother’s and take Ariana to the hospital.” Ariana was hospitalized twice, but with medication and treatment, she gradually returned to her former self. Known as a happy mother and dance instructor, she was described by those who knew her as “warm” and “upbeat.”
A couple of years later, Ariana found herself pregnant again, this time with twins. The twins arrived on May 23, 2023, and the family was well aware of the possibility of Ariana experiencing postnatal depression again. They were prepared to provide as much support as possible. “When we learned about the twins, we devised a plan and assembled a team,” Tyler revealed.
“Unfortunately, what happened to her over a few weeks last time occurred within a couple of days this time,” he expressed. “Even though we had a plan in place, we couldn’t have anticipated how quickly and suddenly it would happen.” Tragically, Ariana’s symptoms emerged earlier and with greater intensity than before, and shortly after giving birth to her twins, Everly Irene and Rowan Stephen, she took her own life.
“It takes immense strength to seek help,” a devastated Tyler shared. “If only we could normalize asking for help, rather than making women feel ashamed for struggling, because this is a genuine issue. It is very, very real, incredibly powerful, highly dangerous, and no one should face it alone.”
The family initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist Tyler in raising awareness about postpartum depression. They urged everyone to share this campaign widely to promote awareness of the importance of mental health care during and after pregnancy. Their hope was to build a supportive community that could prevent other families from enduring similar tragedies.
Tyler also expressed his desire for a change in how healthcare providers approach discussing postpartum depression with expectant parents. He believed that a simple addition to their routine, such as including one more line in their checklist of things to address during meetings, could make a significant difference.
The loss of this young mother of three deeply saddened everyone. They wished for Tyler to find strength in caring for his children who will grow up without the love of their mother.
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