ROCHESTER, N.Y. — His six-month-old twin sons are a handful of joy for Brian Gravelle.

He’s grateful for the help he’ll have in raising them, thanks to people who were somehow touched by his late wife, Lian. She passed away suddenly last weekend. 

She was diagnosed with preeclampsia after the twins were born. Preeclampsia is a condition developed by pregnant women in which their blood pressure increases, but she also had an underlying heart condition.

"Her heart looked like it was recovering ok, but after all this time her heart must have given out,” he said. “That's the best answer we have, that she died of arrhythmia or cardiac arrest."

Lian was a fierce advocate for maternal health. She was involved in a local group called CNY Fertility Center, after struggling with infertility for four years before having the twins.

"With that challenge, she rose. She rose to the occasion every single step of the way,” said friend Erin McCollough. “She taught our group how to fight, and that's what she was. She taught me how to fight, she taught me to never give up. She's like the emblem of never giving up."

The community has rallied around the family, providing love and assistance to the Gravelles.

Lian’s friends and family are hoping others will continue her passion to help advance the standard of care for women.

"Look at your family, look at your friends, people who are experiencing difficulties with their pregnancies, people who are experiencing loss due to that,” Brian Gravelle said. “Pick up the cause and take it as far as you can."