NBA star J.R. Smith announced the birth of his third daughter Saturday, but what was supposed to be celebratory news turned solemn when the baby was born five months prematurely.
Dakota Smith, now 8 days old, weighed a mere one pound at birth.
In the announcement made on Uninterrupted, the video platform created by Smith’s Cavaliers teammate, Lebron James, Smith and his wife asked fans to pray for their daughter.
.@TheRealJRSmith and his wife share difficult family news. pic.twitter.com/efNsDANUo8
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) January 7, 2017
Jewel Smith said the couple decided to share their terrifying ordeal with the world because they know they’re “not the only family going through this.”
“Please keep us in your prayers, and we’ll do the same for everybody else,” she said.
On Twitter, Smith thanked fellow sports figures who reached out with condolences.
Thank u https://t.co/5xZr0olAfZ
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) January 8, 2017
Thank you. We appreciate you. https://t.co/1n97UMeqzR
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) January 8, 2017
Thank you my brother. #Brotherhood https://t.co/6PJ0pRAztG
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) January 8, 2017
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