Roughly two months after Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly and his wife Emma Kelly announced to the world that they were expecting their first child together, the couple returned with another announcement. The devastating reveal shared that Ryan and Emma lost their baby at 19 weeks.
On Halloween, the couple pulled inspiration from the hit 80s movie Ferris Bueller’s day off to tell the world they were expecting. “Life moves pretty fast,” the announcement read as it revealed their little bundle of joy was expected to premiere in 2022.
Colts Star Ryan Kelly and His Wife Emma Make Heartbreaking Announcement
While it is unclear if Ryan and Emma knew of any potential complications going into the pregnancy, they each took to Instagram on December 21 to share the heartbreaking news. Ryan, alongside a photo of their daughter’s handprint, wrote, “Nothing made me happier than being your Dad. You gave your Mom and me 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.”
As Ryan’s post further revealed, they named their daughter Mary Kate. She was born on December 17 at 9:44 am weighing just 3.67 ounces and measuring 7 inches long.
Similarly, Emma also took to her Instagram page to share the news. More importantly, Emma admitted that while she knows her post may be triggering for some who have endured a similar experience it was necessary for her to begin the healing process.
“Please understand this post is necessary for us, so that we may begin our healing and accept our new reality… This page has always been a page to share updates in our life. Typically all the best ones and most recently our pregnancy journey and how beyond excited we were for our baby. This cannot be an exception even though it is far from happy,” Emma began.
“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.”
Emma went on to share that one of their “Angel nurses, Kalyn, told us this would be the hardest thing we’ll ever do in our life, and I pray to God she’s right.” Because, as Emma admitted, the moment they are living through, “feels worse than hard, it feels so evil and cruel.”
“The pain and brokenness are so unbearable for Ryan and I, we don’t even know where to begin,” Emma continued. “I learned her little heart just stopped for reasons unknown on Wednesday afternoon after rushing to the hospital upon discovering a little bleeding. 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.”
Emma said she “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 me the opportunity to hold our little Saint, Mary Kate, before officially saying goodbye to her.”
“These 19 weeks with her opened our hearts and souls more than we ever imagined possible and 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. THANK YOU from the bottom of our broken hearts to the army of people and love that are lifting us through this: to our family, friends, community north staff, and the entire Colts community.”
Since the announcement was made, thousands of people have offered their condolences to the grieving couple. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Kelly family as they continue to navigate this difficult time.
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