OUR REASON:
Brett Allen Newsome
Emily went to a work lunch on June 6th. After eating cheesecake, she noticed something that immediately made her stomach drop—she didn’t feel Brett move. Brett had always been a lover of anything sweet, so in her gut she knew something wasn’t right. She ran out of work and rushed to TidalHealth, praying she was overthinking it.
At 8:05 PM, Brett was born weighing 3 pounds 15 ounces—tiny, strong, and perfect. He was transferred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, where he spent three brave days fighting with his great Auntie Jill and his Pop, Brett Case, beside him.
Emily was released on June 8th and went home to Virginia, where she and Justin quickly packed for their new reality in the NICU. Early Monday morning, they drove to Nemours—quiet, nervous, and ready to see their boy. When they arrived, nurse Brittney greeted them warmly. They walked into Brett’s room, said “Hi buddy,” and within minutes his alarms went off. Nurses and doctors rushed in. Then came the words that froze everything:
“Code blue, roo—”
Emily looked at Justin and whispered, “He waited.”
The wait for news felt endless. The doctor first told them Brett was getting every possible intervention. The sight of nurses running with bags of medication made their hearts sink. When the doctor returned a second time, they knew. They asked immediately to hold Brett and to stop all efforts—they didn’t want him to suffer.
In his room, Brett was placed into their arms. They held him through his final breaths, surrounded by nurses and staff in tears. Their world stopped as Brett passed away in his mommy’s arms—deeply loved and forever cherished.
Brett’s life, though short, carries a purpose bigger than words. He is the reason behind Reelin’ for Brett—a way to honor him, keep his name spoken, and bring light into the world in his memory.
This is our why.
This is Brett’s legacy.
