Luke Shaw wrote a touching letter to couple that lost a child
Luke Shaw returned to the Manchester United squad on Saturday after a long injury layoff, but the bigger story for the defender comes from off the pitch. Per Independent.ie, Shaw wrote a letter to an Irish family congratulating them on the birth of their son after they tragically lost their daughter months earlier.
Steve de Korte and his fiancée, Sarah, had a baby girl named Ava last year who was born 17 weeks premature. After a six-week battle, Ava sadly passed away and de Korte's brother reached out to Man United soliciting help to lift the couple's spirits.
The couple from Tipperary, Ireland had a baby boy 11 weeks ago that they named Luke, a name he just so happens to share with Shaw. The United defender surprised the couple with a personal letter to congratulate them on Luke’s birth, as well as honor the memory of their daughter:
@LukeShaw23 thanks so much for your awesome letter , you are an absolute legend m8 #Lukeisared @FullTimeDEVILS ?⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/dBp0f0ZYya
— Steve MUFC (@Willstev) July 15, 2016
Shaw's letter was certainly an unexpected surprise. After recieving the initial letter from de Korte’s brother, then-manager Louis van Gaal, a fellow Dutchman, wrote back wishing the couple well. After Luke was born, the couple emailed the club with the update and to “say there was a positive story after what we had gone through.”
Word of the story made its way to Shaw, who wrote the heartfelt letter to the couple, and it’s clear it made an impact on them. “It is not a generic email,” de Korte told Independent.ie. There was nice words in it and it meant a lot, The fact that he acknowledged our little girl meant a lot. She might not be here but is still part of our lives."
Saturday’s win against Wigan marked Shaw’s first action since a double fracture of his right leg last September. It’s safe to say that if anyone deserves some good luck in the upcoming season, it’s Shaw.
@ImGHTT @LouMacari10 little Luke ??? pic.twitter.com/BvIm74kOrb
— Steve MUFC (@Willstev) May 31, 2016
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