Eli Raridon and wife mourn loss of newborn son

New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon and his wife, Anna Bernhard, announced the passing of their newborn son, Peter James.

According to a joint statement shared on Instagram, the couple learned during a 20-week anatomy scan that their son had been diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition where major portions of the brain and skull fail to develop. The infant was born on September 11.

In her message, Anna Bernhard expressed profound devastation but noted the importance of their brief time together, stating, “Though his time with us was brief, his life still precious, his purpose still meaningful, and he will forever be a part of our story.”