Matthew Gaudreau’s wife, Madeline Gaudreau, has welcomed the couple’s first baby after her husband’s tragic death in August.
“Tripp Matthew 🤍🦋,” Madeline wrote via Instagram on Sunday, December 29, welcoming the newborn. “Mommy & Daddy’s world.” Her post included a snap of Madeline holding the newborn’s tiny hand, alongside a small sign that reads, “He’s here.” She also tagged Matthew in the post.
Matthew and his brother, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while biking near their New Jersey hometown in August. Matthew was 29, and Johnny was 31.
Shortly after news broke of the brothers’ deaths, an online registry confirmed that Madeline was expecting her and Matthew’s first baby, due on December 31. A GoFundMe was launched in the aftermath of the accident to raise money to support Madeline and the pair’s son, Tripp.
In the days after the tragedy, Madeline shared multiple tributes to her late husband, whom she wed in July 2021.
“I have no words. I just miss you. I don’t know my life without you. I have never experienced a pain like this,” she wrote via Instagram in August. “I am so blessed you choose me to be your wife [and] to love me. You are the best thing about me.”
She continued: “I know you are watching down in just as much pain as I am looking up. I will keep going for you and our son. I love you so much, Matthew.”
In a subsequent Instagram Story post, Madeline wrote that Matthew was “the proudest” father-to-be and “couldn’t wait to be a dad,” adding, “He never missed an appointment. Can’t wait to see you live through our son.”
Madeline described her relationship with Matthew as “the best 14 years of my life” in a September Instagram post, noting, “Can’t wait to see you again. Miss you so much.”
Later that month, Madeline became emotional while delivering a eulogy at a memorial service for Matthew.
“This last week has felt like I’ve been trapped in a nightmare I can’t wake up from,” she said. “I feel numb, angry, sad, blessed all at once. Some days, the thought of this new reality is debilitating, but mostly I just miss Matt.”
Through tears, Madeline said that she knew “Matt will surround his son for the rest of his life.”
“I’m so thankful God gave us a child, a little Matty, to run around for life, to carry on his legacy,” she shared. “Tripp will know how much his father loved him, and I promise to do all the things with him we talked about.”
Madeline concluded her speech by urging people not to drink and drive. “Call a ride. Please do not put another family through this torture,” she said.
Johnny’s wife, Meredith Gaudreau, was also pregnant at the time of the accident. As she prepared to welcome their third child, Madeline vowed to support her sister-in-law.
“We will forever share this extreme heartbreak and terrible bond,” Madeline wrote via Instagram in September. “However, the boys couldn’t have picked stronger women as their wives and mothers of their children. We will carry each other through every season as the boys would do for each other. They blessed us with children. Through them we will always have a part of them earth side with us forever.”
Read the full article here
