New England Patriots Player's Newborn Son Dies Following Rare Diagnosis
Tight end Eli Raridon and his wife announced the loss of their son, Peter James, who was diagnosed with anencephaly shortly after birth.
New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon and his wife, Anna, have announced the tragic loss of their newborn son, Peter James. The couple shared on Instagram Tuesday that their baby, born September 11, passed away shortly after birth.
Anna Raridon revealed that they learned during a 20-week pregnancy scan that Peter had been diagnosed with anencephaly, a rare and fatal condition where the neural tube does not close properly during development. This condition means that babies born with anencephaly typically do not survive long after birth, and there is no known cure or treatment.
"While we are absolutely devastated that we were unable to bring our baby boy home, I am grateful to have loved him deeply, kept him safe, and had been his home for the past 9 months before he was called back to Heaven," Anna wrote on Instagram. She added, "We may never understand the why behind this journey, but one thing we know with certainty is that God promises to care for His children."
She continued, "I believe our little boy was lovingly knitted together in the womb by God, knowing how deeply he would be loved by our families, our friends, Eli, and me. 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. I have loved you every second of your life & will miss you every second of mine. What a sweet sweet reunion ours will be."
Raridon and Anna were married in May 2025. He proposed in August 2024, following years of dating since high school. Anna had announced they were expecting their first child in March, shortly before Raridon was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.