People Magazine Features Karla Perez Story

Karla Perez had a headache, decided to take a nap, and just one day later, the 22-year-old who was four-and-half-months pregnant was declared brain dead.

But for the next 54 days she was kept alive to give her baby named Angel, a chance at surviving.

"I had hope that Karla would wake up," her mother, Berta Jimenez, tells PEOPLE. "But she never did." 

Karla's mother and members of the Methodist Women's Hospital medical team spoke with People reporter Caitlin Keating last week for this exclusive feature for People Magazine.