Alin Bakken’s wife dies during delivery of daughter Ava Marie

A family with deep Pelican Rapids connections is recovering from the tragic loss of a wife and mother—who died July 13. 

Alexandra Rose Bakken died July 13, 2020, at Essentia Hospital, Fargo. (Complete obituary on page 9). 

Alexandra married Pelican Rapids native Alin Bakken in 2015, and the couple was anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. “Allie” died in labor at Essentia; due to rare pregnancy complications. 

Allie was buried at Grove Lake Lutheran Cemetery, where Alin and the Bakken family attended church. Alin was a 2009 graduate of Pelican High School. His parents are Paul and Tammy Bakken. Alin and Allie were married at Grove Lake Church. 

“Appreciate every day, and love each other,” was the comment Alin sent to the community of Pelican Rapids, following the tragic loss of his wife—yet the gain of daughter Ava Marie, who was saved due to medical interventions that were successful, after her mother’s heart stopped. 

Ava and father Alin have been with his parents in the Pelican area for the past several days. 

Alin said he would be returning to work on a part-time basis, at the Premium Waters Inc. production operation in Fargo. Extended family in the Fargo area will be assisting with child care, said Alin. 

According to a newspaper account in the Forum, and Mayo Clinic, Alin’s wife had suffered an amniotic fluid embolism, a rare, life-threatening condition where the fluid surrounding the baby in the womb enters the mother’s bloodstream.

The condition can happen rapidly, without warning, and symptoms can include clotting problems and cardiovascular collapse. It’s estimated there are between one and 12 such cases for every 100,000 deliveries.

A GoFundMe account has been set up on the family’s behalf, in addition to a benefit account through local Bell Banks.