A young California woman whose simple but tasteful $500 wedding made global headlines died on the same day she gave birth.
Kiara Brokenbrough, 32, died after having her baby son Jonah on March 30.
No further details on Brokenbrough’s cause of death have been shared, although a family member told the LA Times that it was not the result of childbirth complications.
Her husband Joel, 34, posted on his Facebook page after the delivery of his son, saying that he was brought into this world ‘in a truly miraculous way’.
Jonah is now being kept inside a neonatal intensive care unit, with his father recently saying he was spending every day at the hospital with him while grieving his wife.
One family member said of Brokenbrough: ‘She was just so pleasant. She had this smile and this poise about herself.
‘She was confident, but yet she wasn’t arrogant. She always made you feel accepted and wanted.’
Brokenbrough and Joel’s nuptials went viral in 2022 after they pulled off a stylish and elegant wedding for a pittance.
Kiara Brokenbrough died in late March after giving birth. Above, with her husband Joel
It remains unclear at this time how the young mother died. Baby Jonah has remained inside an intensive care unit since his birth, a fundraiser said
Brokenbrough looked gorgeous in a simple $47 gown from budget-friendly fashion brand Shein and posted about the bargain buy on TikTok.
She explained: ‘I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a dress because I had the mindset I’m gonna wear this one time for a few hours.’
The two also went further and had guests pay for their own meals and gift them flowers and a cake for their big day.
Speaking on Good Morning America, Brokenbrough said: ‘You have a wedding, with witnesses there to witness you, vowing to your spouse, vowing to God that you guys are going to stay together for life.’
‘Our goal was to just be as minimal as possible and to spend the least amount of money as possible.
‘A lot of people gifted us things, my god-mom gifted us flowers, my sister gifted us a runner, my god-sister gifted us a cake.
‘The guests we had there really understood the assignment, they understood the things we were trying to do and they really supported us.’
The two were officially married in a location just off a freeway.
Kiara and Joel’s nuptials went viral in 2022 after they managed to make their big day possible with just a $500 budget
Following the wedding, the couple celebrated with their friends and family – but not before snapping a newlywed selfie
The two were officially married in a location just off a freeway
The good-looking couple were expecting their son to be born in June, a GoFundMe fundraiser said, and had moved back from West Virginia to San Bernardino, in California, to welcome their son into their lives when she passed.
It added: ‘Unexpectedly, Kiara went to her Heavenly home while Baby Jonah entered his earthly home.
‘He is in NICU and has begun his long journey to grow stronger and healthier each day.
‘Jonah is a cutie and a fighter and by God’s grace and POWER we know he will astound the doctors with his daily progress.
‘If you can find it in your heart, please support Joel and Baby Jonah as they face a future that no one could have ever imagined. God bless you and thank you in advance.’
