Warning: This article contains discussion of baby loss which some readers may find distressing.
Demi Lovato has paid a heartfelt tribute to her newborn niece on social media, who sadly died last month shortly after being born.
The infant's devastating passing was firstly announced by her own mother, Madison De La Garza - 32-year-old Demi's younger half-sister - who explained that tragedy struck following an emergency caesarian.
The 22-year-old had first announced her pregnancy back in early September and taking to Instagram on Saturday (26 October), Madison - best known for playing Juanita Solis on Desperate Housewives - shared a blank, black screen with a heartbreaking message written across it, revealing that her daughter had died the month prior.
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"On the evening of September 27th, after an emergency c-section, Ryan and I held our little girl for the first and last time,” she penned.
"Thank you, Xiomara, for making us parents to the most perfect angel in heaven. Mommy and Daddy love you sweet girl."
The original post quickly harboured over 90,000 likes, and saw numerous fans and family members surrounding the heartbroken couple with well wishes.
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Amongst them was Demi and Madison's own mother, Dianna De La Garza.
"They say when you meet your Grandchild for the first time, you feel a love that you can’t explain in words," she wrote.
"I felt that love and I will feel it til the day I die. I love you my sweet granddaughter Xiomara. Thank you for making me a REAL 'Grandma D'."
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Singer-songwriter Lovato has since penned a tribute to her niece online.
As well as commenting on her maternal half-sister's post - writing: 'I love you so much Xiomara. An angel in every sense of the word. I’ll be your auntie forever' - the Heart Attack singer posted another message on her own account.
On her Instagram stories, Demi shared a similar sentiment: "RIP to my beautiful, perfect niece Xiomara. I’m so grateful I got to hold you. I’lI forever be your auntie.” Lovato tagged her sister, writing: “I love you so much."
Demi's full and older sister Dallas Leigh also commented on her half-sister's original heartbreaking announcement, sharing a poem about her late niece.
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"Baby girl Xiomara, I miss you everyday," she wrote. "I’ll take good care of your mom, so you can fly away.
"Watch over us and guide us and give us little signs. One day we’ll come and see you, it just might take some time. Not a single day will pass without you in our hearts.
"I wish we got more time together before you had to depart. So have fun in your new world, the one we cannot see. Because every breath I take, I’ll be taking one for z."
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If you need support and advice following a pregnancy loss, you can contact the Tommy’s team at [email protected]. You can also call them for free on 0800 014 7800, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Rhianna Benson