No matter what we do in life, no matter how successful, if we’re parents, that is our main role and what most of us care most about. This was proven to be true recently when an NFL defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers lost his baby daughter.
Brandon Mebane, 33, is much more than a football player. He’s also a devoted husband and father. His little girl, Makenna, was born with a rare chromosome disorder called Trisomy 13 and she died recently. She was seven weeks old. He issued these statements in an interview with ESPN, via the Los Angeles Times.
“She just kept bleeding from her stomach, and when they tried to feed her, it wasn’t good for her liver,” Mebane said. “She wasn’t doing much better, and they had to make a decision.”
Makenna was born on November 12thspent her entire short life in the neonatal intensive care unit at an Omaha, Nebraska hospital.
“You know, it’s been a tough year, period, but she would want me to be here doing my job,” Mebane said. “No matter where I am, I still think about her. I’m just happy I’m still able to play this game.”
Brandon said that getting back into the game is therapeutic, which we can understand. Sometimes staying busy is the best way to handle grief.
“I’m doing pretty good,” he said. “I’m just trying to take one day at a time. It’s still painful. I thank God every day and still pray.”
His teammates are glad to have him back. Defensive lineman Damion Square said this.
“I understand how tough it is for him because I don’t understand that situation. The fact that he’s back in this locker room willing to contribute to this team says a lot about that guy. My hat’s off to him. I know he’ll be effective for us this week on the field.”
Brandon missed four games in November and December to be with his wife and his other children, but he returned to the field last week. Watch the touching moment that the entire stadium observed a moment of silence in honor of Makenna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG4Bu5btzl8
We hope that Brandon and his family find peace during this difficult time.