The New England Patriots held a poignant and respectful moment of silence before Sunday’s game against Los Angeles after Chargers defensive lineman, Brandon Mebane, announced he lost his newborn daughter last week.
Makenna Mebane, who was under two months old, passed January 3 after being born with chromosomal abnormalities and experiencing a number of medical complications arising from premature birth.
Moment of silence for Makenna Mebane, Brandon Mebane’s infant daughter who died last week. Classy move by the Patriots pic.twitter.com/yNK4S22lhN
— Gilberto Manzano (@GManzano24) January 13, 2019
Born with a heart defect, Makenna went on to develop a severe intestinal infection called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), which can result in the wasting away of the bowel and even septicemia. Despite fighting with everything she had for a number of days, the tiny girl eventually went to be with Jesus at the age of just seven weeks.
A moment of silence for Makenna Mebane.
Thank you, @Patriots.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 13, 2019
“We appreciated the Patriots organization,” Chargers safety Jahleel Addae said after the game Sunday, as reported by the Boston Globe. “They’re a first-class, stand-up organization to do such a thing; they didn’t have to. I know he appreciates it and we appreciate it as well.”
Patriots held a moment of silence for Brandon Mebane's daughter, Makenna, who passed away at seven weeks old earlier this month.
— Ricky Henne (@RickyHenne) January 13, 2019
As promised, Mebane made an appearance at the New England game, making six tackles during the course of his team’s 41-28 loss.
@Mebane92 I don’t know how you took the field today but your bravery and strength and dedication to your team and your family is amazing. Lots of respect for you from this Pats fan. #PatriotsVsChargers 🏈❤️
— Keri Thompson (@kerithompson) January 13, 2019
Defensive lineman Joey Bosa was seen embracing Mebane after the game.
“We are dealing with this stuff here which we think is a big deal, and he’s dealing with real life problems and real issues,” Bosa said. “For him to come back and still be a part of this team means so much to all of us and it means a lot to him, too.”
Thinking of Brandon Mebane today as he plays for the first time since his daughter, Makenna, passed away on January 3rd 💙
— Ashley Brewer Kaminsky (@ashbrewkaminsky) January 13, 2019
How has the Mebane family responded to the tragedy?
Obviously, it is still a devastating time for the couple, who have another daughter, Mahailey. But through the heartbreak, they are holding firm to the hope found in the Lord.
“I’m still thankful, and I thank God every day,’ Mebane said last week, as reported by ESPN. “I still pray. We’re taking it one day at a time.”
https://twitter.com/MusikFan4Life25/status/1084582874039369728
The Chargers star explained that his baby daughter “just kept having bleeding from her stomach,” and then “they tried to feed her” but “it wasn’t good for her liver.”
Mebane’s wife, Amena, posted to Instagram, explaining the whole heartbreaking situation in excruciating detail.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsOAxTkgxd6/
“After about 1.5 weeks of life, Makenna got a severe intestine infection called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC),” she wrote. “It is the leading cause of death amongst premature babies. She coded and recovered, she got sepsis from the gut bacteria getting into her bloodstream and she kept fighting, she got so swollen and kept fighting, she had abdominal surgery and managed to survive that despite that it was a risky surgery with all of her swelling.”
Amena noted that her little baby girl “came out of surgery with her fist balled and raised in the air.”
“She was such a little fighter,” she added. “But, after a while the complications from the infection took a toll on her body and her organs.”
Initially, it appeared that the little one would require heart surgery. But that was quickly ruled out.
“In fact, her heart was the only thing unaffected by NEC,” Mebane noted.
After fighting hard for days, it was becoming increasingly clear that Makenna was not going to survive, and that she had to be let go by her parents.
“When her other organs started to give out, her heart kept pumping and even continued to pump after she took her last breath. I told my little warrior girl that she didn’t have to fight anymore. We decided to remove all her ivs, love on her all day and then remove her ventilator,” Amena explained.
“She passed peacefully in mommy and daddy’s arms yesterday at 10:30pm,” she wrote. “I will take some time away as we process this and prepare to lay our beautiful, sweet baby to rest. If I don’t respond to a text or call, know that I have received it and just need some time. I’m going to miss her holding my finger, and snuggling with me. She has changed our lives in ways we never expected and we will always remember, love and honor her. RIP Makenna Niara Mebane 11/12/18- 1/3/19.”
Do continue to pray for the Mebane family at this difficult time.