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Australian influencer Leah Jay has tragically lost her newborn daughter Rowe shortly after giving birth.
She shared the heartbreaking news via Instagram on Friday, uploading a photo of herself and partner Michael Ramsey cradling their tiny infant in a hospital bed.
'Our daughter. Rowe. The strongest little girl we will never get to know,' she wrote in the caption.
'You made it through infections and multiple surgeries, even when the odds were against you. But it just wasn't your time.
'We are absolutely devastated. Rest peacefully. Love always, mum, dad and your big brother Reeves.'
Leah also uploaded a photo of herself sweetly kissing Rowe in the hospital bed, alongside the words: 'My beautiful girl. She looked identical to her brother.'
Australian influencer Leah Jay has tragically lost her newborn daughter Rowe shortly after giving birth
Leah also uploaded a photo of herself sweetly kissing Rowe in the hospital bed, alongside the words: 'My beautiful girl. She looked identical to her brother'
The couple were quickly flooded with messages of support from friends and followers.
'I am so sorry for your loss,' model Simone Holtznagel wrote.
'Leah I'm so so sorry. Rowe is a beautiful name. All she ever knew was your comfort, warmth and love. Thinking of you all during this time xxx,' fellow influencer Jade Brycki added.
Footy WAG Bec Judd also wrote: 'I'm so sorry my love. Absolutely heartbroken for your family. You have endured so much.'
The devastating news comes just months after Leah underwent open heart surgery days after announcing her second pregnancy.
Posting on Instagram, the Texas-based brunette, who is also mother to son Reeves, three, revealed that her ordeal began after she noticed her leg had become swollen and painful.
After visiting the hospital, doctors discovered a blood clot in her leg and she was required to undergo emergency surgery.
Unfortunately, the cause of the blood clot was an infection in her heart which had been in her body for a year.
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The devastating news comes just months after Leah underwent open heart surgery days after announcing her second pregnancy
Leah is also mother to a three-year-old son named Reeves
'I kept thinking it was just bad luck, pregnancy symptoms, or that I needed to push through it,' she said in January.
'But my body was trying to tell me something much bigger.'
After this, she and Michael transferred to a top heart surgery after doctors found a strep infection in her blood, which created a mitral valve vegetation on Leah's heart - a form of infection which occurs along the edges of the heart valves.
Leah was required to undergo open heart surgery for the valve to be replaced.
The six-hour ordeal required the pregnant model's heart to be stopped for 80 minutes.
Ahead of the surgery, Michael wrote in a post that there would be 'significant risks for the baby', but added that, 'Leah is our main priority right now.'
'If all goes well, she could be out of the hospital four to five days post-surgery,' he continued.
'Leah is doing well all things considered, taking each step in her stride and being brave in the process.'
In May, Leah uploaded a video montage documenting her recovery from the surgery, including footage of herself working out at the gym.
She also shared an image of herself ringing a bell in a hospital ward.
'Graduated cardiac rehab. Couldn’t be happier,' she announced in the caption.
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