He’s here.
Matthew Gaudreau’s widow, Madeline Gaudreau, gave birth to their first child together four months after the hockey player and his brother, Johnny Gaudreau, were killed by a drunk driver.
On Sunday, Madeline took to Instagram to share a photo of her holding the newborn’s hand.
“Tripp Matthew 🤍🦋, ” she captioned the post. “Mommy & Daddy’s world.”
Madeline, who also tagged her late husband in the photo, was showered with supportive messages from Instagram users in the comments section of her post.
“Beautiful name. I know it has to be so sad not to share this with him… makes me cry. He’d [be] so proud of you! Great job mommy ❤️🙌,” wrote one netizen.
“OMG I’ve been thinking about this everyday this month and wondering when he would come. Hoping to you have a relaxing labor and you and baby boy are healing! ❤️,” added another.
“Congratulations 🥹🩵 enjoy all the newborn snuggles. So happy he’s here safe. You now have a part of Matthew with you. Thinking of you both 🩵,” commented a third person.
On Aug. 29, Matthew and his brother, Johnny, were tragically killed when a drunk driver hit them while they were riding bikes along the side of a road in their native Salem County, NJ. They were 29 and 31, respectively.
Per inmate records seen by Page Six at the time, the driver, Sean M. Higgins, was jailed and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide after cops smelled a “strong odor” of alcohol on his breath at the scene of the crash.
Matthew and the former Columbus Blue Jackets were set to be groomsmen at their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding the following day.
Due to their tragic passing, Katie’s wedding nuptials and reception in Philadelphia were canceled.
The day after their death, Madeline’s sister, Holland Korbitz, revealed in a GoFundMe that her sibling was pregnant and expecting her first child with Matthew, whom she married in July 2021.
A few days later, Madeline spoke out about losing her husband, writing on Instagram that she had never experienced “pain like this.”
“You are the best thing about me,” she added. “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 October, Madeline held a baby shower for her and Matthew’s son that was themed “A Little Piece of Heaven.”
Madeline thanked all the “amazing” people who helped throw the shower and also raved that her husband “would have loved” all the balloons.
“The way you were able to tie in my husband brought instant tears when I walked in,” she gushed. “All my friends and family, nothing will bring his dad back or uncle john, but I am glad he has so many amazing people around him to remind him how amazing they were 💙.”
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