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NHL's Erik Karlsson and His Wife Melinda Welcome a Baby Girl

This Hockey Player's Note to His Wife After the Birth of Their Rainbow Baby Is So Pure

Erik Karlsson and his wife Melinda have so much to be excited about. On Oct. 3, the NHL player shared the news that over a year after losing their stillborn son, they welcomed a baby girl. "To my beautiful wife for doing everything in her power to bring our beautiful little baby girl in to this world, never have I met a more determined or stronger person than you. It hasn't been easy but after the rain finally our little rainbow arrived. Love you both more than I could ever imagine," Erik wrote on Instagram alongside a selfie from the hospital.

In March of last year, Erik and Melinda lost their son a month before he was due. They shared a photo of his footprints with an emotional message on Instagram a few days after experiencing the stillbirth. "At this extremely difficult time it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel but we know one day we'll get there. We would like to thank everyone for the love and support we have received and also for respecting our privacy and the process we need to go through now," he wrote. "We feel very lucky to be Axels parents. Even though he was stillborn, we know we will hold him again one day under different circumstances and the joy he gave us will be with us forever."

The 29-year-old new dad is a defenceman for the San Jose Sharks, and while he missed the first game of the season for a "personal matter" (presumably the birth of his daughter), Erik is back in the lineup for Friday night's game. Congratulations to the new parents! Ahead, see Erik and Melinda's birth announcement, as well as some cute photos of the happy couple.

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