No one was surprised to hear the Shelby Carter’s last act was to drop her 12-day-old daughter from a second-story window.

Carter died moments later as a housefire consumed her in January of 2017.

A devoted mother

Carter loved being a mom and adored her daughter Keana. Sadly, they had just over a week to get to know each other.

According to her obituary:

“Playing basketball and children were Shelby’s passion. She loved every child she came in contact with and they loved her. Her greatest moment was becoming a mom.”

Her cousin, Shawna Burwell, told local CBS affiliate WBMD News that the day before the incident, the mom celebrated her 21st birthday with her newborn.

“Her 21st birthday was yesterday, and on Facebook, she had posted what a great birthday and this morning on snap chat I’d seen ‘loving these mommy moments’ and she had the baby laying on her chest,” she said.

The nail technician, whose goal was to go back to school to become a pharmacy tech, had no idea what the following day would bring.

As a fire ripped through the home of her parents, all we know is that Carter’s last act was to try and save her daughter’s life.

A total loss

Firefighters from three towns responded to the 900 block of N. Galena Avenue in Wyoming, Illinois in January of 2017. The fire engulfed the entire home.

There was only time to do one thing – save the baby.

So the young mother strapped her infant into her car seat, smashed the window of a bedroom, and dropped Keana from the second-story window she stood at as flames and smoke lapped behind her.

“It’s just incredible that she was able to pull her thoughts together to save her baby. I’d say it’s nothing short of a miracle the way it ended up”, Chief of the Wyoming-Speer Fire Protection District Ed Foglesonger told Washington Post.

Once the baby was safe, the 21-year-old succumbed to the smoke.

Rescuers found Keana Davis in her car seat on top of a pile of debris when they arrived. They tried to save Carter, but it was too late.

The ultimate sacrifice

The baby was immediately taken to Peoria’s medical center and said to be in good condition, suffering only a minor burn.

Carter’s body was found in the bedroom and an autopsy revealed that she was killed by carbon monoxide intoxication from smoke inhalation.

A GoFundMe set up for Carter’s mother Kathy Hardy – whose home is the one that burned down – raised over $43,000 (the initial goal was just $3000). She lost everything, except her granddaughter.

The fundraisers said that most of the funds raised would be put in a trust for Keana.

Stark County Sheriff Steve Sloan called Carter a hero and said that the fire was so severe that the true cause may never be known.

You can scroll down below to see more images from the scene of the incident.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Washington Post, Peoria Journal Star, Kewanee Star Courier, WMBD, GoFundMe, Haskell Funeral Home