In a devastating announcement that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment community, Cori Broadus, the youngest daughter of iconic rapper Snoop Dogg, has revealed the tragic passing of her 11-month-old daughter, Codi Dreaux. The infant died on Monday, a mere 20 days after being discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where she had spent the majority of her short life.
A Heartbreaking Journey Cut Short
Codi Dreaux was born three months prematurely in late February 2025, the first child for Cori Broadus and her fiancé, photographer Wayne Duece. The baby's arrival was announced when Cori was just 25 weeks pregnant, with the mother confessing she had "cried and cried" and struggled with feelings of guilt, though she ultimately thanked God for bringing her that far.
The preterm birth resulted from a serious pregnancy complication known as HELLP syndrome, a variant of preeclampsia. Cori, who has lived with lupus since age six and suffered a stroke in early 2024, had previously acknowledged she was experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.
Twenty Days of Homecoming
After months of specialised care in the NICU, Codi was finally discharged at the beginning of January. An overjoyed Cori took to Instagram to share the milestone, posting "She's home" and expressing gratitude for the prayers of fans, stating "God heard them all."
Tragically, this homecoming was brief. This Saturday, Cori posted a poignant black-and-white photograph of herself holding her daughter, accompanied by the caption: "Monday, I lost the love of my life. My Codi." She then reshared her earlier post about Codi's homecoming, adding the anguished comment: "20 days later?! dawg im sick."
A Family's Grief
The infant's father, Wayne Duece, also shared his profound sorrow on social media. He posted a heartrending image to his Instagram Stories showing him leaning lovingly over his baby girl as she gazed up at him.
"I been the saddest since u left me Codi Dreaux. But I know u at peace. Daddy will always love you," he wrote, concluding with the hashtag #LongLiveCodiDreaux.
Cori, aged 26, is the youngest of the three daughters Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, shares with his wife of 28 years, Shante Broadus.
Tributes from Caregivers
The depth of the loss extended to Codi's medical team. Cori reshared a post from her baby's nurse, who reflected on the tragedy alongside a video of a mobile spinning over Codi's crib.
"I been sad for 6 days straight. Being a nurse has its ups and downs and this is the biggest down I ever experienced," the nurse wrote. "It was such a pleasure being mybabygirls nurse. I gave her one last bath told her I loved her and didn't even know I was getting her ready for Heaven." She added that the baby's parents were "forever in my heart and my family 4 ever."
Remembering a 'Sweet Little Firecracker'
Despite the challenging circumstances of her birth and extended hospital stay, those who knew Codi remembered her vibrant spirit. Last September, when Codi was six months old and still in the NICU, Cori spoke lovingly of her "feisty" daughter to Us Weekly, describing her as "so resilient and strong."
"Codi just has so much character," Cori said at the time. "The doctors and nurses always tell me: 'Your baby got her mind. She’s smart. She’s alert. She knows what’s going on. She can hear. She can see. Yeah, the circumstances are not what you thought they would be, but it could be worse.' That girl is just a sweet little firecracker."
The family now mourns the loss of that bright spirit, a life that brought immense joy during its 11 months, yet ended far too soon after a hard-fought battle for health.
