Leyah Amore Harris was the daughter of rapper T.I. and singer-songwriter Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, who sadly passed away before she was born. She had a rare condition where her amniotic sac was divided into two parts and never fused together. This put her at risk of getting tangled in her own umbilical cord. When Cottle was six months pregnant, she visited a specialist who discovered that Leyah had no heartbeat. She delivered her stillborn baby on March 22, 2007. Leyah’s parents and siblings mourned her loss and honored her memory with a funeral service and a song dedicated to her.
The Complicated Pregnancy That Led to Leyah’s Death
According to CelebSuburb, Cottle revealed the details of her pregnancy struggles in an exclusive interview with Essence Magazine. She said that the sac that held her baby girl was split in two and they had not combined since the girl growing inside her turned 16 weeks. The Grammy Award-winning artist added that the baby was “positioned in the middle of those two sacs.” Further, doctors told her the fetus “could get tied up in her umbilical cord.”
Although the doctor warned Cottle several times, the singer never thought of losing the baby. Six months after she conceived the baby, Cottle visited the specialist which ended in a devastating outcome. She said, “When I went to see the specialist, that’s when they determined there was no heartbeat.”
The Funeral Service and the Song for Leyah
The family of Leyah organized a beautiful funeral service for their late baby girl. It was attended by their family members and a few other people. Leyah Amore Harris along with her sibling and parents. Besides, Cottle admitted that she sporadically visits the graveside because it’s “too sad,” on “holidays and special days.”
Leyah’s parents also expressed their grief and pain in music. T.I. wrote a song called No Mercy where he mentioned Leyah and asked God for forgiveness. He also said he felt numb and angry and blamed himself for not being there for Cottle. Cottle also wrote a song called My Sunshine where she sang about how Leyah was her angel and how much she missed her.
How Leyah’s Death Affected Her Parents’ Relationship
Leyah Amore Harris’ parents, T.I. and Tameka Cottle were devastated by the loss of their baby girl. They both experienced a period of deep emotional distress and depression following the tragedy. Cottle said she was very upset and depressed for a while and kept Leyah’s belongings near her. She also visited her graveside on special occasions.
However, the tragedy also brought them closer as a couple and strengthened their bond. Cottle said they became more supportive of each other and rekindled their romance. They also focused on their other children and welcomed another daughter, Heiress Harris, in 2016. They have been married since 2010 and have seven children together, including Leyah.