Block couple reveal touching tribute to late daughter

Dani Reilly has opened up about her daughter’s heartbreaking death, sharing the one piece of advice that has helped her keep going.

Contemporary artist and Studio Gallery founder Kerry Armstrong has created artwork dedicated to Dan and Dani Reilly and their late daughter, Billie.

Dani Reilly has been touched by a powerful art tribute to love, loss and legacy in honour of her late daughter Billie.

Reilly and husband Dan, fan favourites from The Block, revealed in December they lost their precious baby 10 days after birth.

Celebrated contemporary artist and Studio Gallery founder Kerry Armstrong created I Am Love, valued at $22,800, and has donated it to raise funds for Billie’s Besties Fund, which supports NICU families through the Women’s Hospital.

“Billie’s reach is wide — so many people have been touched by her story and the light she brought to the world in such a short time,’’ Dani said.

“The painting is perfect, just like our Billie. The idea that it will carry eternal meaning and bring a lifetime of joy and smiles to its future owner feels really special.”

The artwork was titled I Am Love.

Dan and Dani Reilly with their daughter Billie. Pic: Instagram

Reilly admits the couple’s loss is still hard to come to terms with.

“To be honest, I’m not even sure what coping means in a situation like this,” she said.

“You just do whatever you need to do to wake up, get up, and put one foot in front of the other. It really is minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.

She added: “It’s forever, and I don’t think I’ve fully come to terms with that yet. What

I do know is that, somehow, the sting starts to soften. Life begins to move again, even when the grief still feels completely suffocating at times. Over time, your capacity to let new things into your day slowly increases. The anxiety around that begins to ease too, and when it doesn’t, that’s okay. It just means you’re not quite ready yet. Sometimes you take a step forward, sometimes a step back. Both are part of it.

“It’s important to acknowledge how far you’ve come, while also giving yourself grace when you’re pulled back into the heaviness of it all. People often said to us, “go gently,” and honestly, it’s the only advice that’s ever truly made sense.”

Armstrong said: “I painted ‘I Am Love’ immediately after I read about Dan and Dani’s devastating loss of Billie. The emotions I felt and empathy towards them came through in the most beautiful, ethereal way onto the linen and I was compelled to write an accompanying verse which is forever captured with my handwriting on the back of the piece.”

Dan and Dani have already raised over $35,000 in Billie’s honour for NICU support.

billies-besties.raiselysite.com