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NFL’s Ryan Kelly Announces Daughter’s Death: ‘God Had a Bigger Purpose’

NFL star Ryan Kelly announced the tragic passing of his daughter on Monday. Kelly and his wife, Emma, shared on Instagram that they are grieving the loss of their baby girl, Mary Kate. Emma was 19 weeks pregnant when she received heartbreaking news.

In a post that Emma explained was “necessary for us, so that we may begin our healing,” she shares what happened. A portion of the post’s caption reads, “There is no easy way for us to say what we’re about to say… But we lost our sweet baby, Mary Katherine Kelly, aka Mary Kate, this week. I was 19 weeks along, 1 week from the halfway mark. Women have a 1% chance of losing their baby this far along, and yet somehow, here we are. The pain and brokenness is so unbearable for Ryan and I we don’t even know where to begin.”

An Unexpected Loss for the Kelly Family

Emma shares that her child’s heart stopped beating for unknown reasons, something she learned shortly after rushing to the hospital in response to bleeding. She goes on to explain, “After learning she wasn’t with us anymore, I was told there was no other choice but to deliver our baby next. Ryan and I spent almost 48 hours in the hospital. I labored for 24 hours with her before she made her entrance on December 17th. I was so angry at first that I had to deliver her, only for it to become the biggest blessing out of this nightmare. It gave Ryan and I the opportunity to hold our little Saint, Mary Kate, before officially saying goodbye to her.”

In the emotional post, Emma shares that the couple’s faith has remained strong and they believe that God had a bigger purpose for their daughter. “These 19 weeks with her opened our hearts & souls more than we ever imagined possible & I’m forever grateful we had some time, earth-side, with the little girl who made us mom and dad. She was tiny, perfect and incredibly loved from everyone who knew she existed. I don’t think we’ll ever understand why God decided to call her home when he did but our faith is unshaken. He knows better than we & she was needed back home, in Heaven,” the post reads. 

Ryan Kelly Shares Beautiful Post For His Daughter

Ryan Kelly also shared his grief through social media. In a touching post featuring a photo of Mary Kate’s handprint, Kelly writes, “Nothing made me happier than being your Dad. You gave your Mom and I that gift. You were simply a miracle and always will be. I’m sorry you never got to open those sweet eyes and see us or take your first steps but you have angel wings now. You left this world too soon but we know God had a bigger purpose for you. Your mom and I find comfort knowing you’re being loved on by your great grandparents. Thank you for watching over us and your future siblings. I’ll forever wonder who you’d be today. Until we meet again my sweet girl, I love you.”

The couple has thanked their community for their support during this time.