'Broken hearts': AFL couple's devastating loss of unborn baby
The AFL community has been rallying around North Melbourne's Ben Brown and his wife after the couple revealed they had lost an unborn child.
In a devastating Instagram post, Brown and wife Hester shared the tragic news that they had lost one of their unborn twins.
'BREAKS MY HEART': Star's gut-wrenching letter to teammates
'GOLDEN HEART': Shane Tuck farewelled in moving tribute
HEADACHE: QLD border closure causes dramas for NRL, AFL
The post showed a picture of a frame with the words, "Brown Twins" as well as details about the babies and a photo of an ultrasound.
The image revealed that one of the twins is due in February 2021, while the other will "always be in our hearts".
Brown's wife Hester captioned the image with a heartbreaking tribute to the baby she and her husband have lost.
“This is bittersweet to announce, but I believe that if we don’t talk about difficult things we will never come to know that we aren’t alone,” Hester wrote.
"This is bittersweet to announce, but I believe that if we don’t talk about difficult things we will never come to know that we aren’t alone.
"I knew I had two babies from the very start. They came to me in a dream and I knew I could feel them there. The hyperemesis felt like an indication too.
"But between being relocated around the country several times and quarantine periods we didn’t get to hear a heartbeat or see our babies until there was just one to see.
"We are very grateful to have another beautiful baby join our family next year and we know that we are fortunate and will cherish what we have but we will also carry broken hearts for the beautiful twin who we will never hold in our arms.
"I know that miscarrying/vanishing twins are common. But that doesn’t take the hurt away. And I just want to extend my love and my hand to anyone who has or is going through this. You are not alone."
Show of support for couple after tragic news
The devastating post was met with an outpouring of support on social media.
Brown's club the Kangaroos posted a short message about the tragedy on their Twitter page.
“Our thoughts are with Ben and Hester Brown at this incredibly tough time,” the club said.
Brown and his wife were married in 2017 and have a 17-month-old daughter, Aila.
Brown is part off the North Melbourne squad currently in one of the Gold Coast quarantine hubs.
His Kangaroos side face the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon, hoping to avoid a seventh straight defeat.
