Tributes pour in as hockey star and his wife announce heartbreaking miscarriage
The wife of Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson shared heartbreaking family news on Thursday when she announced that the couple had lost a baby.
Katelyn Byrd took to Instagram to share an emotional message with her followers, along with a video of the couple discovering her pregnancy which hit hard.
The couple, who wed privately in June, had been expecting to have the child in July 2026 and had been yet to announce any pregnancy news publicly.
Her caption read: 'Nothing prepares you for the deepest love and excitement you feel when you find out you created life with your dream man and nothing prepares you for the visceral pain the moment it gets ripped away from you.
'Knowing you're gone is one of the hardest things my heart has ever had to accept. The love we have for you is endless. I would do anything to bring you back.
'We really wanted to welcome you into this world in July, being the best parents we could possibly be.
Elias Pettersson and Katelyn Byrd have revealed that they've lost a child through miscarriage
Model and influencer Byrd took to Instagram on Thursday night to share the devastating news
Byrd also shared a touching video which showed the moment they discovered her pregnancy
'We never got to hold you or count your little toes but we dreamed about it every second after finding out about you. Rest easy my baby. We will love and miss you forever our angel Baby.
'For the women fighting this behind the scenes, I see you, I feel you, you are not alone as much as it feels like it. I love you and I'm here for you'.
The comment section was inundated with tribute messages to the couple.
Erin Alvey, wife of Nashville Predators star Filip Forsberg, wrote: 'Oh my sweet Katelyn. I’m so so sorry for this unimaginable heartbreak. Sending you both so much love and as much comfort as possible. Love you'.
Shortly after making the announcement, Byrd returned to social media to discuss the stigma surrounding early miscarriage discourse.
She wrote on her Instagram story Katelyn said: 'What do you mean women and their partners have to suffer this loss in silence?
'What do you mean I have to be around pregnant women and pretend like everything is fine when my baby is dead inside me? What do you mean women aren't supposed to have a support system because you didn't make to 12 [weeks]? It's BS.'
'I hope anyone going through this or has gone through this knows you're not alone, it's one of the most isolating feelings in the world. I love you and reach out for help. You need all the love and support during this.'
The couple have kept their relationship fairly private and had only shared photos together on a handful of occasions - with the last post being from their wedding.
The video which Byrd posted also showed the pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan
Byrd boasts over 300,000 followers on her Instagram page alone
Pettersson has played for the Canucks since 2017 after being drafted fifth overall in 2017
Pettersson and Byrd married quietly on June 22nd, according to reports, after dating for a number of years.
Swedish hockey star Pettersson has played for the Canucks since 2017 after being drafted fifth overall in the 2017 NHL draft.
Pettersson, born in in Sundsvall, Sweden, is a forward for the Canucks and has regularly featured in the NHL All-Star Games in recent years.
Meanwhile, while wife Byrd is a model and influencer, boasting over 300,000 followers on her Instagram page alone.
