Golfer Camilo Villegas’ baby daughter dies
<p><span>Golf star Camilo Villegas’ broke down in tears when speaking about his 22-month-old daughter who died last month due to rumours on her brain and spine.</span><br /><br /><span>Villegas, 38, had one child who tragically passed away in Miami after surgery and chemotherapy, <em>The Sun</em> initially reported..</span><br /><br /><span>PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement: “The PGA Tour is deeply saddened having lost a member of our family, Mia Villegas.</span><br /><br /><span>“We grieve with Camilo and Maria and our thoughts and prayers are with the Villegas family.”</span><br /><br /><span>Villegas has yet to speak on his family’s major tragedy, but could not hold back his tears when he spoke on his little girl’s battle in June.</span></p>
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<p><br /><span>While speaking at TPC Sawgrass, Villegas admitted life had been hard for the family since they learnt about Mia’s illness, saying: “It’s been tough.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m probably going to get emotional but that’s fine.</span><br /><br /><span>“It’s inspiring, to see my little one fighting.</span><br /><br /><span>“My wife has been very strong, and you’ve got to follow your instincts, and honestly I don’t know if my instincts are to come play this week.</span><br /><br /><span>“I don’t really know where my mind is. I know where my heart is. But you also have to listen to the people that love you.</span><br /><br /><span>“My wife said, ‘Just go out there and enjoy. Golf is what you’ve done for years, golf has given you so many great things’.”</span></p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p><br /><span>The golfing star and his wife Maria first noticed something was wrong when Mia began crying more than usual back in February.</span><br /><br /><span>The Colombian golfer, who reached a high of No. 7 in the world rankings in September 2008, said: “She always went to the gym with me; it was one of our bonding spots.</span><br /><br /><span>“She was always like a little monkey, climbing on everything. But then one day, I noticed she had not been climbing on anything.</span><br /><br /><span>“She had also been crying a little more than normal at night.</span><br /><br /><span>“She had been teething, so we took her to the paediatrician, thinking it was that.”</span></p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p><br /><span>On March 14 the couple took their little girl to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami for scans.</span><br /><br /><span>It was then they learnt that doctors had found tumours were growing on her brain and spine.</span><br /><br /><span>Mia underwent surgery but doctors informed Villegas and his wife that there would be more treatment required.</span><br /><br /><span>Villegas went on to say: “After the surgery, when it was time to remove the stitches, they learned the growth had become pretty aggressive.</span><br /><br /><span>“We were told we needed to start treatment right away, so they kept us there. Physically, though, she wasn’t ready to get the kind of chemo doctors were hoping for.”</span><br /><br /><span>Villegas has not played since finishing 33rd at the Korn Ferry Tour event in June.</span></p>
