At a Glance
- Kayla Vesia posted a photo embracing husband Alex with the caption “Sterlings mom and dad 🩷”
- The couple lost their daughter Sterling on Oct. 26, 2024, and announced her death Nov. 7
- Kayla returned to TikTok Jan. 2, thanking fans for support and vowing to share her healing journey
- Why it matters: Public grief from a high-profile couple offers solidarity to families facing similar loss
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia and his wife Kayla are honoring their infant daughter Sterling, who died last October, through social media tributes and candid updates about life after loss.
Instagram Tribute
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Kayla shared a sun-lit snapshot of the couple wrapped in each other’s arms, both smiling gently at the camera. The post marked one of the first times the pair have appeared together publicly since revealing Sterling’s passing.
The image carried a simple, powerful caption: “Sterlings mom and dad 🩷.”
Announcement of Loss
In a joint statement released Friday, Nov. 7, the Vesias told followers that their “little angel” had died on Sunday, Oct. 26.
“Our beautiful daughter went to heaven Sunday, Oct. 26,” the statement read. “There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her.”
Accompanying the message was a black-and-white photo of the parents’ hands resting atop their baby’s tiny fingers.
The couple expressed gratitude to the Dodgers organization, which had just clinched the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1.
Key acknowledgments included:
- Dodgers players, staff and fans
- Blue Jays organization
- Baseball fans nationwide
- Cedars-Sinai medical team
“Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” the Vesias wrote, adding that every message, comment and post had “brought us so much comfort.”
Return to Social Media
Kayla broke her online silence on Thursday, Jan. 2, uploading a two-minute TikTok video titled simply “checking in.”
Wearing minimal makeup and speaking softly, she admitted, “I don’t have much to say, honestly. Alex and I are just trying to get through it everyday. Every day’s so different for us right now and I don’t really have the words.”
Despite the uncertainty, she emphasized appreciation for the online community that has rallied around the couple.
“It just felt right to come on here and say ‘Thank you,'” she said. “I am really grateful for the community of you guys, and just expressing your support and love towards us. It really has brought us a lot of comfort during this.”
Plans for Sharing
Kayla acknowledged that she does not yet know what her content will look like moving forward, but confirmed she wants to document parts of her journey.
“I don’t know how much I’m going to share. I don’t know. I don’t know the details of it, but I do know that I want to share, and if it can help somebody who’s going through the same thing, feel like they’re not alone,” she explained.
She promised followers she will avoid turning her platform into a constant stream of tears, noting, “I don’t wanna come on here and cry. I don’t think that’s fun for anyone.”
Therapy and Support
The 29-year-old emphasized that therapy sessions with Alex and conversations with followers serve as complementary outlets for processing grief.
“Right now I don’t have a whole lot to say, just that I am really grateful for you guys in showing so much love and support for this during this time,” she concluded.
Key Takeaways
- The Vesias lost daughter Sterling on Oct. 26 and publicly shared the news Nov. 7
- Kayla’s Jan. 20 Instagram post subtly honors Sterling by identifying herself and Alex as “Sterlings mom and dad”
- Kayla’s Jan. 2 TikTok marks her first public statement since the tragedy, centering on gratitude and cautious optimism about sharing her healing process
- The couple credits the Dodgers organization, medical staff at Cedars-Sinai and baseball fans worldwide for helping them navigate profound loss
