Life-and-death struggle with B.C. mom on life support as child due next month

VICTORIA – A Victoria family is locked in an epic life-and-death struggle with a young mother on life support while her unborn child hangs onto life awaiting a due date several weeks away.

Robyn Benson, who is five months pregnant, was declared brain dead after she was admitted to hospital last month complaining of vomiting and a severe headache.

Family friend Rod Phillips says he started a fundraising campaign to help the father, Dylan, and his son once the baby is born.

Phillips says the unborn child, a boy who is already named Iver Benson, is alive and thriving while her mother lies unconscious in hospital.

Doctors are hoping Robyn's body continues to function for another three or four weeks to allow doctors to safely deliver Iver by caesarean section before turning off his mom's life-support.

Robyn and Dylan were high school sweethearts who married last summer.