Heartbreak hits Snoop Dogg’s family after NICU joy

Heartbreak has engulfed the music icon’s family Snoop Dogg after a moment of hard-earned joy transformed into devastating loss.

His daughter Cori Broadus revealed that her baby daughter, Codi Dreaux, died just weeks after leaving intensive care, ending a journey marked by resilience, public prayers and a fragile hope that briefly felt realized before everything slowly fell apart.

Cori Broadus, the youngest daughter of Snoop Dogg and his wife Shante Broadus, confirmed that her 11-month-old daughter Codi Dreaux died on Monday, just 20 days after leaving the neonatal intensive care unit.

The announcement stunned fans who had followed the baby’s long medical journey and celebrated his long-awaited return home.

Codi was born three months premature in late February 2025, the first child Cori welcomed with her fiancé, photographer Wayne Duece.

From the start, her life unfolded in extraordinary circumstances, with months spent in the NICU as doctors monitored her fragile condition.

When Codi was finally allowed to return home at the start of the new year, Cori marked the moment publicly: while writing“She’s home,” and adding, “Thank you for every prayer, every message, every ounce of love. God heard them all.”

This feeling of relief, however, was short-lived and heartbreaking. Days later, Cori shared a black and white photo holding her daughter and revealed the devastating turn her life had taken.

“On Monday I lost the love of my life. My Codi,” she wrote. Reflecting on the cruel timing, she shared her earlier celebration and added: “20 days later?! man I’m sick (sic).”

The emotional weight of Codi Broadus’ death is amplified by how close the family felt to a happy ending.

After surviving months in intensive care, his release symbolized a triumph in the face of enormous odds.

Friends, disciples and loved ones gathered around Cori, offering prayers and encouragement throughout this ordeal.

Cori, 26, had been open about the emotional toll of the experience, from the uncertainty of the NICU to the cautious optimism that followed Codi’s return home.

This optimism now stands in stark contrast to the reality she faces, a reality defined by grief rather than relief.

Wayne Duece also shared his pain publicly, posting a tender image of him holding his daughter as she looked on.

Alongside the photo, he expressed his grief with words that echoed the depth of his loss.

“I’m the saddest since you left me Codi Dreaux. But I know you’re at peace. Daddy will always love you (sic),” he wrote, followed by the hashtag “#LongLiveCodiDreaux.”

He also shared messages from friends and loved ones honoring Codi and offering condolences, emphasizing how deeply his brief life touched those around him.

The outpouring of support extended beyond the family, reaching the medical professionals who had cared for Codi during her months in the hospital.

Cori Broadus then shared a tribute written by Codi’s nurse, who posted a video of a mobile spinning above the baby’s crib.

In an emotional reflection, the nurse wrote: “I have been sad for 6 days straight. Being a nurse has its ups and downs and this is the most depression I have ever experienced.”

The nurse described the final moments she spent caring for Codi, adding, “It was such a pleasure being my little girl’s nurse. I gave her one last bath, told her I loved her and that I didn’t even know I was preparing her for heaven.”

She concluded by telling Codi’s parents that they were “forever in my heart and in my family forever,” capturing how the loss resonated beyond the Broadus household.

After Codi’s birth, Cori Broadus spoke candidly about the struggles of her pregnancy.