During Her 5th Pregnancy, Emily Mitchell Was Having Her Morning Coffee When She Suddenly Became Unresponsive — She & Her Unborn Child Died

At 36, she was seemingly healthy, active, and still working on her next homeschooling project. But when she suddenly died mid-breakfast, it would take days to know the cause — a silent medical emergency known for striking fast and often without symptoms.

In her second trimester with her fifth child, a mother of four was savoring a quiet morning with some toast and a mug of coffee. Within minutes, what had begun as part of her daily routine turned into a sudden and life-threatening emergency.

Without warning, she became unresponsive, and despite her family's efforts to help, they could not revive her. Her sudden death left loved ones shocked and confused. It was clear that something had gone catastrophically wrong. But what?

Just Weeks Before the Tragedy

Emily Mitchell was a digital content creator, wife, and mother of four: one boy, Finn, and three girls, Isla, Edie, and Lulu. She and her husband, Joseph Mitchell, often shared moments from their family life with a growing audience online.

Then, on November 19, 2020, they revealed a surprise they had been holding back from their followers. Sitting beside her husband on a staircase, she held up an ultrasound photo, smiling broadly at the camera. The caption underneath the image captured the excitement of the moment.

It read, "YOU GUYS. NUMBER FIVE. 🥳 Who guessed the secret?!!! 🤣🥳🥳 you've probably noticed I've been a little MIA..welp this be the reason lol 😂🤢😴🥳 Number FIVE comin in hot and we are here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it 👏🏻🥳🥳 11 weeks 2 days and counting😍😍."

This announcement fit seamlessly into the online narrative she had built centered on her children, her husband, and the rhythms of her home.

Inside the Mitchells' Homelife

At home in Rhode Island, Mitchell centered her life around raising and educating her children. She and Joseph had committed to homeschooling early in their parenting journey. Education, for Emily, wasn't limited to textbooks.

She created hands-on lessons, nature walks, and themed learning bundles that reflected her belief in nurturing curiosity through everyday experiences. She shared much of that process with her online audience.

Through "The Hidden Way Learning," Emily developed nature-based educational resources that reached homeschooling families across the country and beyond. In 2020, she launched the Nature Mega Bundle, a collection of materials contributed by multiple creators.

Its success led to a second volume, and a third was already in the early planning stages before her passing. Beyond her work as an educator, Emily was known for blending structure and spontaneity in her home life.

She often posted about daily routines, outdoor exploration, and family projects, always with a sense of humor and warmth. Her content reflected a lifestyle grounded in simplicity, learning, and time together.

A Normal Morning, Until It Wasn't

On the morning of December 22, 2020, Emily was having her coffee and toast. She was in her second trimester of pregnancy and, by all outward signs, the day had begun like any other. Then, without warning, she became unresponsive.

Her children, husband, and father were present and acted quickly to get help. Emergency responders arrived, and every effort was made to revive her. But despite urgent intervention from both family members and medical personnel, she could not be resuscitated.

Emily Mitchell, 36, died that morning. Her unborn child died with her. In the days that followed, those closest to her waited for answers. What could cause a seemingly healthy, expectant mother to lose consciousness without warning, and be gone within minutes?

An Answer, Days Later

The confirmation came days later from the state Medical Examiner's Office: Emily had died of a pulmonary embolism. The news was shared with the public by her family, who also expressed gratitude for the first responders and medical personnel who had tried to save her.

"Although it is challenging to wrap our heads around how this could have happened,[..] we are certain that it was simply her time; the Lord was calling her home," her family stated.

The condition that caused it is both serious and often undetected, especially during pregnancy. For many families, it becomes clear only after it's too late.

Understanding Pulmonary Embolism: A Hidden Risk During Pregnancy

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that blocks blood flow in one of the vessels in the lungs. It typically forms in the deep veins of the legs or arms and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. Once lodged in the pulmonary artery, the clot can reduce oxygen levels, raise pressure in the lungs, and place dangerous strain on the heart.

This condition is a medical emergency. Without immediate treatment, it can lead to permanent lung damage, heart failure, or sudden death. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about one-third of people with a pulmonary embolism die before receiving a diagnosis or treatment. When caught early, however, it's often treatable and rarely fatal.

Symptoms can vary widely. Some people experience sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid heartbeat. Others report wheezing, a cough (sometimes with bloody mucus), or sharp pain in the chest, back, or jaw that worsens with breathing.

Additional signs may include clammy or bluish skin, excessive sweating, pale complexion, or feeling anxious, lightheaded, or faint. In some cases, symptoms may build gradually over several days; in others, they appear within minutes or seconds.

Pregnancy increases the risk of pulmonary embolism due to hormonal changes that make the blood more prone to clotting. As the uterus grows, it can also slow blood flow through veins in the pelvis and legs, especially during extended periods of rest or inactivity.

Other risk factors include recent surgery, fractures, vein injuries, cardiovascular disease (such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or stroke), certain cancers, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, and inherited clotting disorders.

Because the signs are so often overlooked or mistaken for less serious issues, pulmonary embolism remains one of the most difficult conditions to catch in time. In Emily's case, the embolism struck without warning and progressed too quickly for anyone to intervene.

Carrying On Without Emily

After Emily's passing, Joseph was left to care for Finn, Isla, Edie, and Lulu, while also grieving the loss of both his wife and their unborn child. The family's routines, once shaped by Emily's presence, had to continue without her.

In the days that followed, support poured in from the community she had built. A fundraiser was launched to help cover education expenses and living costs for the children. The outpouring of messages, letters, and calls did not go unnoticed. In an update, the family acknowledged the support.

"We appreciate everyone's concerns about her sudden passing, and want to thank you all for the love you've expressed in the form of messages, calls, and letters," they wrote.

Though their days looked different, Joseph and the children chose to continue the routines Emily had been so passionate about, especially homeschooling. With the help of close family friends Bruna and Allyson, he planned to keep sharing their journey online and maintain the learning environment Emily had created.

Her family expressed hope that the spirit of what she created — joyful, grounded, and deeply connected to the natural world — would continue to inspire others.