Demi Lovato‘s newborn niece, Xiomara, died following an emergency cesarean section, says the singer’s younger sister, Madison De La Garza. De La Garza posted a statement on Instagram on Saturday (Oct. 26), and Lovato shared her sister’s heartbreaking message.
“On the evening of September 27th, after an emergency c-section, Ryan and I held our little girl for the first and last time. Thank you, Xiomara, for making us parents to the most perfect angel in heaven. Mommy and Daddy love you sweet girl,” De La Garza, 22, wrote in her post. She and boyfriend Ryan Mitchell had announced the pregnancy on Sept. 7, as well as De La Garza’s October due date.
“I love you so much Xiomara. An angel in every sense of the word. I’ll be your auntie forever,” Lovato commented on her sister’s post on Saturday.
Dallas Lovato, their older sister, penned a touching poem: “Baby girl Xiomara, I miss you everyday. 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.”
Dianna De La Garza, the siblings’ mother and baby Xiomara’s grandmother, wrote, “They say when you meet your Grandchild for the first time, you feel a love that you can’t explain in words. 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.’”
On Saturday, Lovato also shared her younger sister’s post in an Instagram Story on her own account, where she wrote, “RIP to my beautiful, perfect niece Xiomara. I’m so grateful I got to hold you. I’ll forever be your auntie.”
“I love you so much @maddelagarza,” she said.
De La Garza and Mitchell are both actors, with De La Garza best known for her role as young Juanita Solis on Desperate Housewives from 2008-2012. Mitchell’s credits include appearances on soap operas The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless in 2017.
They shared their first public photo as a couple on Instagram on June 13, with De La Garza captioning the personal snapshot “My whole world.”
On Sept. 7, when the couple announced they were expecting, De La Garza shared a sweet picture of herself with Mitchell, with her hand resting on her belly. The photo was one of several in a slideshow of images celebrating the pregnancy with family. She did not post again until Oct. 26.
Last month Lovato shed light on her experience with childhood fame when she released her documentary Child Star on Hulu. The pop star and actress co-directed the film with Nicola Marsh. Since then, she’s performed at the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala, participated in Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day panel and gala, and sang one of Foreigner’s biggest hits, “Feels Like the First Time,” at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2024 Induction Ceremony.