Australian wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke (née Hatfield) died following a complication suffered after giving birth at home.
Sharing the news via Instagram on Sunday, October 19, the Melbourne-based influencer’s husband, Nathan Warnecke, penned an emotional tribute to his “soul mate and best friend.”
Nathan confirmed that Stacey, a nutritionist and content creator behind the recipe website Natural Spoonfuls, gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Axel, at home before her death on September 29. “Tragically, shortly after, an unforeseen and extremely rare complication arose and she passed after being transferred to hospital,” Nathan wrote. “Hospital staff were amazing and did the utmost to help, but ultimately nothing could be done despite their best efforts.”
Nathan’s Instagram post included several photos of the couple, including what appeared to be snaps taken during the pair’s Maldives wedding that showed them strolling along a beach. One of the images also appeared to show Stacey with a pregnant belly.
“I knew Stace for 9 amazing years, she was the light of my life and the reason I got up in the morning,” Nathan continued. “Words can’t do justice to how devastating this is for myself and everyone that knew and loved her. She was my lighthouse in the storm and the world is less bright without her in it. As her husband, I couldn’t ask for a better partner. She was the most beautiful, loving, caring, hardworking, disciplined, intelligent and trustworthy human being i’ve ever known. She made me the man I am today and everything I have in life is all thanks to her.”
A post shared by Natural Spoonfuls’ Instagram account also included a photo of Axel Grae Warnecke sleeping in a bassinet, as well as two snaps of Nathan holding his baby at home. The post, written by one of Stacey’s “best friends,” stated that a GoFundMe page had been started for Nathan by a family member. “Stacey and Nathan lived a quiet, love-filled life. They never would have asked for help. So I’m asking on their behalf,” the Natural Spoonfuls account published. “Nathan is stepping into fatherhood with unimaginable strength and grace. There’s so much on his plate right now, and if you’re able to support him through this GoFundMe … created by his uncle … it would mean the world.”
Nathan’s Instagram tribute also reflected on his wife’s perspective on motherhood as well as her pregnancy and the moment Axel entered the world. “It was her life’s biggest dream to be a mum. She did it. On her terms, exactly the way she always dreamed of doing it. She loved being pregnant and over the last 9 months told our son she loved him everyday,” he wrote. “She held Axel when he was born, nursed him, saw that he was a boy and loved him. She loved him so much and still, continues to love him.”
Nathan concluded the post, “If there’s one thing that I can try and reconcile in this horrible time is that her last moments on earth were the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Her memory will remain with those of us that knew her as the ditzy, green-eyed, blonde haired girl whose smile could fill a room.”
