Jill Duggar Dillard and her family are mourning a tragic loss.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the stillbirth of our beautiful baby girl, Isla Marie Dillard,” the couple announced on Instagram.
The “19 Kids and Counting” alum and her husband, Derick Dillard, learned that their daughter had died in utero when Jill was four months pregnant. Jill previously suffered a miscarriage in 2021.
The couple has three sons: Israel David, 9, Samuel Scott, 6, and Frederick Michael, 21 months.
“His three older brothers were so excited to introduce him to their world,” the couple wrote. “Isla was very loved from the beginning.”
Thousands of fans offered their prayers and condolences on social media, in addition to many of the couple's family members.
“I love you so much, sister,” commented Jill's sister, Jinger Vuolo. “Continue to hold them all in prayer. We will miss the sweet little Island.”
“We love you all. We continue to pray. Isla Marie is so loved. Forever our first girl,” wrote Deena Dillard, Derick's sister.
Jill and Derick's vulnerability inspired others to share their experiences with the loss and grief of their children.
“I had a stillbirth with our fourth baby 3 years ago, at 35 weeks,” said one woman. “The most difficult thing I have ever gone through in my life. But the pain becomes easier to bear although it never goes away. It will come in waves, especially in the first year, as you rue all the milestones without it.”
“My GemmaGrace was stillborn too, she went to be with Jesus a week before her due date,” another responded. “She was my miracle as I struggled with infertility for 7 years before becoming pregnant with her… Our girls are in heaven waiting for us in perfection.”
The Dillards closed their Instagram post by saying, “We appreciate your prayers as we continue to grieve and recover from the loss of our little Marie Island.”
Jill and Derick, who married in 2014 after dating, published their memoir “Counting the Cost” in September 2023. The book described life behind the cameras on the Duggar family's hit TLC shows “19 Kids and Counting” and “Counting On”. ”
The couple also participated in the 2023 Amazon Prime documentary “Shiny Happy People” to discuss Jill's childhood and growing up in fundamentalist Christian minister Bill Gothard's Institute of Basic Life Principles, a belief system Jinger described as “harmful” and “cult-like.” trends.”
