In Devastating Video, Dad Sings 'Blackbird' to Dying Baby

Chris Picco lost wife and son in matter of days
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 13, 2014 1:37 PM CST
Updated Nov 13, 2014 1:44 PM CST

Chris and Ashley Picco of Loma Linda, Calif., met while volunteering in NYC in the wake of 9/11, married in 2007, and were looking forward to welcoming their first child in February. Instead, Ashley died unexpectedly, and little Lennon was born three and a half months premature on Saturday via emergency C-section. Now a heartbreaking video has gone viral that shows Chris, a musician and recording artist, playing his guitar and singing the Beatles' "Blackbird" to his son in the NICU Monday. Lennon died the next day, KIRO-TV reports. "There are times in life, when you witness something so beautiful, and so heart-wrenching, words won't do, and only music will suffice. This is one of those times," wrote the friend who captured the moment.

The details leading up to the emergency C-section aren't clear, though the YouTube video description says the 30-year-old "unexpectedly and tragically passed away in her sleep." On Facebook, Chris wrote that Ashley "passed away" and Lennon "survived by an emergency C-section," though medical staff were concerned about Lennon's lack of movement and brain activity, according to the video description. Since a pregnant Ashley often noticed Lennon moving when music was playing, Chris decided to give his baby "a little concert," he wrote. Donors have given more than $67,000 as of this writing to a memorial fund set up to help Chris with medical and funeral expenses. (Another baby's brief life ended up touching many who heard about it.)

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