Sarah Herron, best known for being a contestant on the popular dating show The Bachelor announced the death of her baby boy, Oliver Brown, in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday. The baby, which was conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), was born prematurely on January 28th at just 24 weeks old and passed away in his father’s arms shortly after Herron gave birth.
The 36-year-old and her husband, Dylan Brown, announced the pregnancy in September after an intense year-long IVF process. The couple was excited at the time (it being their first child), but they also knew it was a long road ahead and remained ‘cautiously optimistic’ in the early days of the pregnancy.
In her Instagram post on Wednesday, Sarah Herron explained the deep grief and sorrow they feel in the wake of Oliver’s death. At the same time, she talked about all the wonderful moments she got to experience with her little one in her belly and is grateful for the time she and her husband spent with him.
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“On January 28th, at 24 weeks old, our beautiful son Oliver Brown was born. He passed away in his dad’s arms shortly after. There are no words for the magnitude of loss and pain we’re experiencing. It’s beautiful and simultaneously tragic. He had my nose and his dad’s mouth and long fingers,” she began writing.
She acknowledged the many ‘hard milestones’ the baby fought through to get to this point and praised her baby for defying the odds – calling Oliver a miracle. Unfortunately, the ‘higher powers’ had ‘other plans’ for the three of them. Herron shared a number of photo memories taken during her pregnancy.
Sarah Herron knows her time with Oliver was cut short, but she remains grateful for the time she did get with him. The baby taught her and her husband the ‘integrity of life, love, and death,’ adding he filled their home and hearts with love and optimism. She said his body was small, but his legacy is larger than life.
She also talked about some of her favorite memories with Oliver in her belly – including swimming with sea turtles, keeping her company while she nursed a broken knee and Dylan’s delicious cooking. Most of all, she loved her morning routine – consisting of her dog laying heart-to-heart with Oliver on her lap.
Sarah Herron Finds Comfort in the Tragedy
Sarah Herron’s lengthy and heartbreaking Instagram caption is enough to turn on the waterworks. Her candid and honest display of emotion is something most of us can relate to, whether you’ve lost a son or a loved one in general. Her vulnerability and courage are admirable.
“While our hearts are shattered beyond comprehension, we are comforted knowing that our son’s soul only ever knew love and will not suffer in a body that wasn’t built for this life,” wrote the former The Bachelor contestant. She understands her son is in a better place now – one that’s free of suffering.
Sarah Herron rose to fame after appearing on Season 17 of The Bachelor – she was a contestant at the time. She was also featured on Season 1 and Season 3 of the spin-off series Bachelor in Paradise. While she never found love on the shows, she did find her soulmate, Dylan Brown, while working on a different project.
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“We’ll never understand the cruelty of it all, but through the darkness, Oliver remains so so bright. We love you so much, baby boy. You will never be replaced. You are so perfect and awesome,” she added, signing the caption, ‘Love, Mommy and Daddy.’