Joy and sorrow for Dylan Benson of Victoria, British Columbia: He welcomed a healthy baby son into the world on Saturday night, but had to say goodbye to wife Robyn soon afterward. She was declared brain dead late last year after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage while five months pregnant and had been kept on life supportuntil it was safe to deliver the baby. She died Sunday, hours after son Iver Cohen Benson was delivered at just 28 weeks, weighing two pounds, 13 ounces. “I don’t think I have the right words to describe it,” the new father tells theVancouver Sun. “It’s the best and definitely the worst thing to ever happen to me in my life at the same time.” The couple were married just seven months ago but had met as teens 16 years ago.

After Iver was born, “we had to unfortunately say goodbye to the strongest and most wonderful woman I have ever met,” Benson wrote in a Facebook post last night. “I miss Robyn more than words can explain. I could not be more impressed with her strength, and I am so lucky to have known her. She will live on forever within Iver, and in my heart.” Iver will remain in the hospital until he is healthy enough to go home, the CBC reports. A fundraising appealfor the father and son has now raised $178,000, far above the initial goal of $36,000. The Sun notes only 30 similar cases have ever been reported in medical journals.