Munster star Billy Holland has opened up on the feeling of 'devastation and emptiness' he felt after losing his young daughter Emmeline in May last year.
Billy and his wife Lanlih welcomed their first born in November 2018, but due to severe medical problems, they only had very little time to spend with their baby girl.
Soon after Emmeline was born, the couple were told that she would have a short life expectancy.
“They (doctors) don’t mess around,” Holland told The Irish Times.
“It became clear to us, very quickly, that they weren’t happy and there was something else wrong. Within three weeks we were told that Emmeline didn’t have a long life expectancy and wasn’t expected to thrive. They couldn’t tell us why. We were absolutely heartbroken. We didn’t know what to do.”
After successful heart surgery in May 2019, Emmeline took a turn and passed away around ten days later.
And Holland has described the 'detestation' and how he hopes no other parents would have to go through what they did.
He said: “In early May she needed minor surgery on her heart. It was a surgical procedure and she took a general anaesthetic and she overcame that hurdle with flying colours.
"She recovered well from that and we were about to go home. We’d our bags packed. We weren’t even getting an ambulance home, we were driving home and she took a turn overnight.
“I can’t put it into words, the feelings of loss, devastation and emptiness. It’s cruel. In the day or two after Emmeline passed away, we were surrounded by friends and family.
"You’re busy planning a funeral and it’s kind of surreal. We brought her home to our house in Cork and we didn’t leave her side. On the Monday morning, myself and my wife had to drive to the funeral directors and pick out a coffin or a casket, and then we had to go to the graveyard and pick out a plot.
"That’s something that no parent should ever have to do for their child or their baby. It was sick. It still makes me feel sick thinking about having to do that.”
Billy and Lanlih appeared on the Late Late Show earlier this year and shared their story - raising around €500,000 for Crumlin's Children Hospital and the CUH Children's Ward.
They became parents again to a baby boy, Matthew.
Proudly sharing the news on social media, Billy wrote: "Matthew Conor Holland, our gift from Emmeline. So proud of my wonderful wife Lanlih."
It wasn't long before the couple were flooded with good wishes from their followers.
"Congratulations to all of you & all good things for Matthew Conor. Emmeline is with you," wrote on Twitter.
A second added: "Congrats, Billy & Lanlih. Fantastic news. Delighted for you both."
While a third said: "Congratulations such wonderful news."
