The girlfriend of late Oregon Ducks football player Spencer Webb has welcomed a baby and named her son in his honor.
Kelly Kay gave birth to her first child after suffering the loss of her boyfriend who passed away in a cliff-diving accident last July.
The tragic incident saw the tight end, who was entering his fifth-year junior season last year, hit his head 100 yards down a steep trail in Triangle Lake, about 35 miles away from his campus.
At the time, the Lane County Sherriff's Office released a statement in which they stated that Webb was unable to be revived at the scene and had succumbed to his injuries.
"There is no evidence of foul play and his death appears to be accidental," they added in the Facebook post. "The victim’s name is being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification."
While authorities did not publicly identify the deceased athlete, Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning confirmed it was in fact the 22-year-old via a statement on Twitter.
"So full of life in every moment of the day," Lanning wrote. "Your smile and energy will be missed Spencer. I love you!"
Later on, Kay also took to social media to post a touching tribute to her boyfriend.
Posting on Instagram, she wrote: "My best friend my twin flame the love of my life. I’ve never loved anything as much as I love you. You were my everything, you gave me purpose, you showed me what it’s like to be cherished and valued and seen for me."
"We had so many big plans," she continued. "I don’t know where to go from here but I know you’ll be watching over me keeping me strong. You always put everybody else before yourself and I’ll try to hold the same kindness in my heart."
Kay announced that she was pregnant with Webb's child in August 2022.
Now, just eight months later, the model has given birth to a healthy baby boy and named him 'Spider Webb' after her late boyfriend.
Kay took to Instagram to post a series of adorable snapshots showing the new mom hugging her son who was wrapped up in an Oregon blanket. Other snapshots showed Webb's old football jersey with the number 18 on it as well as baby Spider's footprints.
Thousands took to the comments to celebrate the happy news.
"Thank you for carrying his legacy, and keeping his name alive," wrote an old friend of Webb. "Congrats to you and my brother, would love to meet baby boy one day."
Another pointed out the importance of the baby's birth date and his father's jersey.
"Big Believer in numbers and signs! Add the 333 together and multiply by 2 it equals 18. His Daddy’s number."
"Oh Kelly!! Congrats on your Angel baby," added another user while someone else commended Kay for her strength: "I can’t imagine the emotional rollercoaster this was for you, let alone his arrival. It must be like hugging your man once more. Now you’ll have a piece of him with you for the rest of your life. You look like a natural already, mama!"
Despite this being a bittersweet situation, we're glad to know that both Kelly and her son are doing well.
Congratulations!
