New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon and his wife, Anna Raridon, announced Tuesday that they lost their baby boy after he was diagnosed with anencephaly. The fatal birth defect prevents the forebrain and cerebrum from forming in the womb.
Raridon, a rookie out of Notre Dame, is expected to report to work Wednesday while carrying the weight of the family’s loss. His wife shared their experience, grief and reliance on faith through a message posted to her Instagram account.
“When Eli and I went in for our 20-week anatomy scan, excited to see our sweet baby boy, our hearts were forever changed,” Anna wrote. “Our little one was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which he would not survive outside the womb.
“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.”
There is no cure or standard treatment for anencephaly. About 75% of affected pregnancies end in stillbirth, while infants who are born alive usually pass away within a few hours or days.
Anna described how she has turned toward her faith during the family’s deep pain. She wrote about the difference between glorifying the Lord during good times and trusting Him through profound trials.
“I have often found it easy to glorify the Lord when life is going well, but it is in our deepest trials that we are drawn closest to Him,” Anna continued. “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.
“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.”
Eli and Anna also directed a personal message to their baby boy. It expressed the love they felt throughout his life and the reunion they believe awaits them.
“I have loved you every second of your life and will miss you every second of mine. What a sweet sweet reunion ours will be ”
CDC Data and Statistics on Birth Defects reports that about 1 in every 4,762 is born with anencephaly. That figure is roughly .02% of live births.
Literature cited in the source states that the recurrence rate following one pregnancy affected by anencephaly rises to between 2%-5%. The source also described that as a 95%-98% chance that the Raridons will not encounter the condition again.
Anna shared two passages of Scripture that she is leaning on during the family’s grief. The first was 1 Peter 1:5-7, a passage about faith, salvation and enduring trials.
“who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
She also shared James 1:2-4, which speaks about steadfastness through trials. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Raridon was pictured making a touchdown catch against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sept. 9, 2026. He was also pictured speaking with reporters after practice at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Aug. 25, 2026.
As Raridon prepares to return to work, Anna’s message remains centered on the child they loved, the pain of losing him and the faith she has chosen to embrace. She wrote that their baby boy will forever remain part of their story.