SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 30, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Former BYU running back coach Reno Mahe and his wife, Sunny, have announced they are expecting a baby boy, 18 months after they lost their 3-year-old daughter, Elsie, to a tragic accident at home.
Elsie died in November 2016 after a window blind cord became wrapped around her neck, cutting off her air supply. Since then, her parents have shared their faith-filled story on a Facebook page called Mahe Update.
The Mahes, parents to eight children, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Mahes announced the gender news on Monday morning, after posting news that they were expecting back on May 8.
The post from Sunny Mahe reads:
No more tiny ribbons and bows
No more painting little toes
No more princess dresses sweet
To match with sparkly shoed feet
I thought I might get one more chance
To watch a little hula dance
To buy pretty dresses, pink and bright
One more chance to do it right
No more little pigtailed curls
No more. No more little girls.
I’m sorry if I may seem sad
About a chance I never had
Just for a minute let me mourn
For the little girl that won’t be born
The time for tears has passed away
And now it’s time to celebrate
Our healthy baby boy to come
We are so lucky and excited to receive you, son!
A baby brother Steel will get
You two will be best friends, I bet
Another priesthood holder to be
I think Elsie picked you just for me
I’m so excited for your future,
But for the record – baby girl clothes are still cuter.
I didn’t even realize how much I had hoped for another chance at raising a little girl until the ultrasound tech left the room and I felt the tears forming. It was a little like losing Elsie all over again and I’m SO glad we had decided against any kind of big Pinterest inspired gender reveal!
But after letting it sink in, I’m thrilled to announce that my son will finally join our family at the end of the year! Baby boy, you are already so loved and will bring so much light to our home.
2 Tim 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
After Elsie’s accident, but before she passed away, Sunny Mahe shared her clarity she had received: that Elsie’s final miracle would be saving other children through the donation of her organs.
The decision of Elsie’s parents to donate their daughter’s organs ended up saving five lives, according to a billboard erected by the National Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho.
Reno Mahe joined the Cougars as a running backs coach in 2016, and announced his departure from BYU football in December 2017. He spent five seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles after his time as a player with BYU.
