COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A first-time mom is celebrating the birth of her child while mourning the deaths of her fiancé and mother. The two were killed in a car crash while traveling to the hospital to welcome the new baby into the world.
Jeremiah was born at 8:03pm on Saturday. He is healthy and weighs a little more than 8lbs, he is 22 inches long.
“He has my lips for sure, but he looks like his dad.” said new mom Crystal Matrau-Belt.
He wasn’t supposed to arrive this early, but her mom’s high blood pressure kept her in the hospital on Friday. Then, on Saturday, doctors decided a c-section was best.
The baby’s father, Emil Skokan III, was home with his future mother-in-law, Peggy NIchols, preparing for the baby’s arrival.
“That was our plan, is he was going to just stay at home, get things ready, because we didn’t know it would be right then and there.” said Crystal Matrau-Belt.
Jeremiah would be their first baby together and her mother’s first biological grandchild.
“That was her biggest thing, you know, she was just excited every day just checking in.” said Crystal Matrau-Belt.
On Saturday, from the hospital crystal made the call. It was time. She remembers her fiancé’s last words.
“That he would be on his way up here (crying) and he loved me and that he’d be here shortly.” said Crystal Matrau-Belt.
Headed to Bronson Methodist Hospital with his future mother-in-law, her fiancé’ lost control of a car in Comstock Township and hit a tree. They died in the crash four hours before Jeremiah was born.
Mom was back in her hospital room recovering when her dad, step-dad and step-mom told her the news.
“I just remember all their faces, and I knew something was wrong I just didn’t know how bad it was.” said Crystal Matrau-Belt.
Now she’s torn between joy and grief.
“It’s a hard balance that I’ve been trying to- that’s what keeps me going, just him.” said Crystal Matrau-Belt.
Friends of the new mom have started a go-fund-me account to help her and her son.
