The widow of a US Marine killed in last month's Kabul terror attack has shared images of her newborn daughter, who she has named after the little one's father.
On August 26, two explosions and gunfire led to carnage outside the gates of Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans attempted to escape rule by the Taliban after the extremist group seized control.
Of the 175 people who were killed in the explosions at Hamid Karzai International Airport, 13 were US troops. Twenty-year-old Rylee McCollum was one of these fallen troops. Sadly, he died just weeks before the birth of his daughter, who has since been named Levi Rylee Rose.
As reported by the Casper Star-Tribune, McCollum was sent to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuations of Afghans and US citizens. He is believed to have lost his life while manning an airport checkpoint.
Jiennah Crayton, Rylee's wife of six months, gave birth to their daughter on Monday, September 13, taking to Facebook to share sweet photos of the newborn.
In one of the photos, the child is seen in her crib next to a sign that reads: "Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton welcomes baby girl Levi Rylee Rose." Also in the crib is a cushion with an image of the child's father in his uniform imprinted on it.
In another post, Crayton shared a poem she wrote in honor of her baby girl.
It read:
"Levi Rylee Rose, I love you little girl.
"You blessed us all with light and love when you came into the world.
"Hold onto your mama, she's needing you right now. You're precious, you are beautiful, you brought the world together somehow.
"Your daddy, he's watching over you, he loves you both so much. You'll feel him with you always.
"A random feather, a subtle touch, I can't wait to hold you, I'm excited to watch you grow. I love you little Levi Rylee Rose, I wanted you to know."
Crayton's mother, Jill Miller Crayton said per the Daily Mail that her daughter was "crushed" when she learned that her husband had died in the blast last month.
She said: "I didn't get to know him, I didn't even get to meet him but I do know that she was madly in love with him. He was her everything her future and her best friend.
"I couldn't wait to meet him, he made her so incredibly happy. I hadn't known her to be so happy until she married him and found out she was pregnant. It was like she was complete."