Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Brandon Mebane emotionally revealed that his 7-week-old daughter, Makenna, died Thursday from a heart defect.
Makenna was born premature on Nov. 12 and was diagnosed with trisomy 13, a heart condition that left her without a heart valve. The defect required the infant to have surgery, reported ESPN.
“She just kept having bleeding from her stomach, and then they tried to feed her, it wasn’t good for her liver,” Mebane tearfully told reporters.
Last week, Mebane missed Sunday’s wild-card game against the Baltimore Ravens. The defensive tackle also missed four games this season to stay in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife, Amena, and their two children Mahailey and Makai while Makenna received medical attention.
“I’m still thankful, and I thank God every day,” Mebane said. “I still pray. We’re taking it one day at a time.”
Now, Mebane, his wife, and kids are back in Los Angeles, and he intends to play against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
“No matter where I am, I still think about her,” Mebane said of Makenna. “I’m just happy I’m still able to play this game, so [I’m doing] pretty good.”
Mebane, 33, is in his third season with the Chargers. A defensive co-captain, he has 40 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in 12 games.
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News