New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty is an easy guy to root for. Not only has he been one of the top players in the NFL over the last decade, but he's also a great leader on the field and in the community. The pain his family is going through right now, however, is insurmountable.
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McCourty is married to his wife Michelle. The couple has two children — 3-year-old daughter Londyn and 2-year-old son Brayden — and was expecting their third child later this summer. Then, an unthinkable tragedy happened.
The McCourtys lost their daughter, Mia McCourty, over Memorial Day weekend and shared the tragic news in a heartfelt Instagram post.
"I cry as I type this. It pains me to announce that this past memorial wknd, on May 24, 2020, Dev and I suffered the most painful experience of our lives," Michelle McCourty wrote. "My pregnancy had resulted in a still birth at almost 8 months of being pregnant — at exactly 31 weeks 2 days, when we found out that the baby girl growing inside me no longer had a heartbeat after being completely fine the week prior at my last doctor's appt.
"We are so heart broken. We are devastated. We are speechless. We are angry. We are sad. We are confused. We are numb."
The three-time Super Bowl champion and his wife are in mourning.
Patriots' Devin McCourty, Wife Mourn Loss of Stillborn Daughter
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To make matters worse, in the words of Michelle McCourty, she went through an "emotional full 21 hour labor" and had to deliver their baby girl. She had the umbilical cord around her neck. Doctors didn't have answers as to why it happened, and it's a loss that simply cannot be put into words.
Losing their beautiful baby girl is beyond heartbreaking.
"I've seen and felt God in so many ways in this last week. 1st was holding my 3rd child Mia and telling her I love her and then telling her see you later... all in one day. 2nd has been leading such a strong and powerful woman [Michelle]... her strength has brought me to tears but also inspired me to be what God has called me to be. 2rd Gods love on earth has been shown to us by unbelievers friends and family who have checked on us daily, and hourly. Thank you everyone for your love and prayers."
Support from Tom Brady and others poured out on social media for Devin McCourty, who shares an Instagram account with Patriots cornerback and twin brother Jason McCourty.
The family has asked for privacy after the loss of their daughter.
"While trying to cope with our family's loss, we appreciate the love and support we've already gotten, and just ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time, since we have no answers to give anyway," the post reads. "The mere thought of what happened causes instant bursts of tears at any time of day, and having to speak about it hurts tenfold."
There's no doubt the thoughts and prayers will keep coming as the McCourtys try to get through this awful tragedy.
