'Time is a thief.' The Block's Dani Wales and Dan Reilly on the loss of their 10-day-old daughter.

At the end of 2024, The Block couple Dan Reilly and Dani Wales shared the devastating news that their daughter had passed away at just 10-days old.

The couple confirmed the news on December 20, sharing they had named their precious baby girl Billie Vera Reilly.

"It is with insurmountable grief that we share the news that our daughter Billie, has passed on from this life and into the next at just 10 days young," the couple shared in a joint statement on Instagram.

"In Billie's short time in this world, she taught us an intensity of both love and pain we never knew possible. She taught us what really matters.

"Billie was so wanted, so loved and she made us parents… and what an honour it is to be her mummy and daddy. She will always be our daughter."

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A post shared by Dani Reilly (@dani_wales)

"It's clear to us that Billie was far too good for this world, but if we know anything for sure, it's that Billie's legacy will make an impact greater than all of us," they continued.

The couple gave special thanks to The Royal Women's Hospital nurses, doctors and staff in the NICU, calling them "the most incredible people to walk this earth."

They encouraged followers to donate in Billie's honour, if they were in the financial position to do so. Since then, they've raised $19,000.

"We understand there will be questions, and so many of the answers we just don't have yet," they added at the time. "We'll share more in time but for now we ask for privacy as we work through this together and with our loved ones," the couple finished off their statement.

Their post was met with an outpouring of grief and support from family, friends, and The Block alumni.

A few weeks later, Dani has shared a follow-up post about their unimaginable loss.

"Today marks 4 weeks since our Billie girl came into our lives & everything changed. How is it possible to have both a full & broken heart at the same time?!" she penned, on January 5.

"It's true what they say, time is a thief — but on the other hand, it also gave us so much. So many memories and firsts for Billie. In trying to find the light & not focus on what I miss, I'm going to share 5 of my favourite things or moments about Billie," she continued.

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A post shared by Dani Reilly (@dani_wales)

"The day that will always be known as "Billie's Day" was one of the best of our lives — When Billie Vera met [their dogs] Hazel Valentine & Olive June. All our girls together. Billie's Day was rounded out with time in the sunshine listening to the birds, music, crafts, bathing, hair brushing, reading The Faraway Tree as a family, & truly precious cuddles we'll remember forever," Dani wrote of introducing her daughter to the couple's beloved dogs.

"Waking up at midnight with her on my chest — something I had imagined doing everyday I was pregnant. Despite the machines & tubes, & how tricky it was to move her, the doctors & nurses aka Billie's Besties, made it possible," she wrote.

Dani continued on to share she loved her cute button nose, the sweet nicknames they had crafted for her, and getting to see Dan become a father.

"My most favourite moments of all, were seeing Dan with her — the best dad! Watching him brush her hair, putting on her little body balm after bathing, reading to her (& me)… it was all magic."

Once again commending the work of The Royal Women's Hospital, Dani finished off her post with this message: "Billie, we'll love & celebrate you for an eternity & you'll always be the sun."

Dani Wales and Dan Reilly first appeared on The Block. Image: Instagram.

Dan and Dani announced they were expecting a baby in July 2024, with a photo taken alongside their beloved dogs Hazel and Olive.

The Block fans first met Dan and Dani in 2012, where they became breakout stars.

They argued passionately, designed their home beautifully and renovated their build to a high standard (despite having no prior experience). Whether they were liked or not was irrelevant — Dan and Dani were there to win and they made no apologies for that. By the end of the season, the couple took home a tidy $448,000 profit from the sale of their house.

"I have a one in four chance to win $100,000," Dan said at the time. "This could potentially change our lives and set us up for life and I am going to give it my hardest and give it my all. The viewer does not have a chance to win this prize."

Dan and Dani were welcomed on again in 2013 during the all-star series of The Block.

Since their time on The Block as a couple, life has been full speed ahead for Dan and Dani.

Right after wrapping up as a contestant, Dan became a Certified Master Builder and started running an interior design and construction business alongside Dani, called Manna Made.

In 2014, he joined The Block again and was referred to as 'Foreboy Dan', which meant he helped Foreman Keith look after the Block site.

After Foreman Keith Schleiger decided to step back from The Block to spend more time with his family, Dan took over as the main foreman. And The Block 2024 saw him front and centre.

'Foreman Dan' returned to The Block. Image: Nine.

He previously reflected on the remarkable journey, saying it's a huge part of his and Dani's life.

"When you’re a contestant, it feels like it changes your life," he told Nine. "Doing that a few times and then coming back, it’s been a big part of my life, and also Dani’s – even though she’s not involved."

While Dan spent his time bossing the Block contestants around, Dani got her own TV gig as the co-host of the Channel 10 series Healthy Homes Australia, which came to an end in 2023, after 10 years of hosting.

The pair also kept their renovating and remodelling dream alive by having a go at it on their own with an old cottage, located in the Victorian suburb of Seddon. Slowly, they transformed the place into a modern retreat.

In 2016, Dan and Dani listed the property for $1.1 million but managed to sell it for $1.3 million after auction.

The pair have stuck by one another's side — through years of renovations, owning a business together, and juggling a relationship. In 2018, after eight years of dating, the pair tied the knot.

They celebrated surrounded by a bunch of familiar faces including former Blockheads, Josh and Jenna Densten, building boss The Block's foreman Keith and Healthy Homes Australia co-host Walt Collins.

For the last several years, Dan and Dani have also had a mini-series on Nine, called Dan V Dani, where they tour The Block contestant's rooms every week and give their very honest and very brutal opinions.

At the end of each walk-through, the pair award one team as the 'champion' of the week, and another as the 'chump'.

After all these years together, the pair have done it all, from rennovating numerous homes together, to hosting a show together.

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"It’s still funny seeing him on the show," Dani admitted to Insider Style in 2017. "I never in a million years thought anything like that would end up happening – no way.

"Actually, we talk about that a lot — way back when we did the show, Dan was really funny, and really engaging, but not so great when it was a 'Solo Dan to Camera' stuff... But watching him develop has been really cool. I tell him every series, 'I’m so proud of how far you have come'."

She added: "I have never really thought about what might have been [but] all I can think about, if anyone asks, is that The Block absolutely changed our lives. We will forever be indebted for them picking us."

This article was originally published in September 2022 and has since been updated with new information.

Feature Image: Instagram/dani_wales.