Video of US dad singing Beatles song to dying newborn son viewed 2 million times (video)

Chris Picco's son Lennon James was delivered by emergency C-section at just 24 weeks old. The boy's mother Ashley died unexpectedly but peacefully in her sleep. Chris asked for prayers for the baby, saying "I have a lifetime to grieve this unspeakable loss, but I know that right now she would want me to focus completely on baby Lennon James."

Chris Picco took a guitar into the neo-natal ward to sing 'Blackbird' to his son, Lennon, born prematurely by emergency Caesarian section last weekend. The boy was born at 24 weeks on Nov 8, but his mother Ashley died the same day. — YouTube pic

A heartbreaking video of a man singing a Beatles song to his dying newborn baby, after the mother passed away during labour, has gone viral online.


Chris Picco took a guitar into the neo-natal ward to sing Blackbird to his son Lennon, born prematurely by emergency Caesarian section last weekend.

The boy was born at 24 weeks on Nov 8, but his mother Ashley died the same day.

The infant survived three days in the neo-natal ward at Loma Linda University Hospital outside Los Angeles and died on Nov 11.

A video of the baby’s father playing the song by his incubator had been watched more than two million times on Thursday with tens of thousands more views every few minutes.

Ashley, a nurse, was 30 when she died on Nov. 8. She met her husband Chris volunteering in relief efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11.

“Our dear Ashley’s life was tragically, devastatingly cut short this past weekend. Her dear baby flickered briefly for a few days after,” said a statement on a memorial website.

While baby Lennon James fought for his young life at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Chris sang to him. A video of him singing "Blackbird" has gone viral.

Baby Lennon died Nov. 11.

A family spokesman, Brett Walls, told AFP: “For the next few days, Chris is spending time with his family, his friends, and his community while he continues to grieve.

“He recognizes the chord this is striking with people and would be interested in seeing how we could partner to bring healing to others who are suffering,” he said in an email.

In August, on Chris and Ashley's seventh wedding anniversary, they announced they were expecting a baby with this photo.