Growing up in Mullumbimby, Wayde Kelly was always a lover of rugby league and he and fiancée Kymberlie Shepherd were just about to start their very own junior team when tragedy stuck.
Wayde tragically lost Kymberlie during the birth of their son Kyden Thomas Bede Kelly in Perth on Thursday October 16.
Wayde, who grew up with Titans forward of 2014 Cody Nelson, is of course devastated and several funds have been set up and fundraising events planned to support rugby league lover and servant.
Wayde, now 26, is well known around league circles on the Gold Coast and northern NSW and was once a would-be Titan who played for Burleigh Bears. He recently moved to Perth to work in the NRL development department and played for the premiership-winning South Perth team.
Kym had been teaching at Safety Bay school in Perth but was for many years a dance teacher on the Gold Coast, and a foundation Titans member.
Kyden was born last Thursday and Kym suffered a rare amniotic fluid embolism during the birth and tragically died. The embolism occurs when amniotic fluid (surrounding the baby in the uterus) or foetal material enters the mother’s bloodstream.
Kym was an extremely popular figure around the Gold Coast and there have been many moving tributes in the past week, including from Reflections Academy of Dance who have organised fundraising events including a concert, and South Perth Rugby League Club.
Burleigh Bears are also organising a fundraising event in November; check out their website next week for details.
If you’d like to donate to assist Wayde, click here.
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