BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Rays pitcher uses tragedy with infant daughter to help others

  • Pete Fairbanks and his wife lost his baby daughter in 2024
  • For each strikeout, they donate $100 to Turner Syndrome Foundation
  • Over $13,000 has been raised this season

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

BE - Test Share

More Sports

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

(NewsNation) — An emotional postgame interview has brought Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks and his worthy cause to national consciousness.

Fairbanks and his wife, Lydia, lost their infant daughter after 19 weeks and six days gestation due to Turner Syndrome, a disorder caused by a missing chromosome that almost always results in miscarriage.

Since then, they’ve turned their heartbreak into a healing mission by partnering with the Turner Syndrome Foundation, spreading awareness about the condition which affects roughly one in every 2,000 women.

After Turner Syndrome Foundation Day at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field, Fairbanks grew emotional when asked about his departed daughter postgame Sunday.

When asked by reporter Tricia Whitaker if he could feel Ellis’ presence while on the mound, Fairbanks said; “Definitely felt a piece [of her] out there. So you know, I’ll take that.”

Following his interview going viral, donations to their fundraiser in honor of Ellis toward the Turner Syndrome Foundation poured in.

Bids for the experience of building Lego with Fairbanks also skyrocketed, with the winner paying $1,505. Net proceeds go the Turner Syndrome Foundation (TSF).

“Strikeouts for Ellis” shirts are also available, with the TSF benefitting from sales.

Fairbanks’ wife, Lydia spoke to NewsNation about the outpouring of emotion and donations in the aftermath.

“I’m so happy how it turned out and obviously after Peter’s interview, it was amazing seeing the auction bids go way up and just see everyone’s support coming from all around,” Lydia Fairbanks said.

“So many of the shirt sizes sold out and we’re working on restocking and so we’re kind of still dealing with some of the chaos now but obviously all good things. So yeah, it was just amazing to see it come full circle.”

Sports

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

53°F Clear Feels like 52°
Wind
4 mph N
Humidity
46%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
48°F Clear skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
5 mph NNW
Precip
4%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Full Moon