A woman reveals her experience raising her husband’s ex-wife’s baby, who tragically passed away just days after giving birth.
In August 2021, Christie Werts, 49, and her husband Wesley, 46, of Ohio, were worried when they received the phone call that changed their lives forever.
The person on the other end of the line revealed that Wesley’s ex-wife, who was pregnant, had been admitted to the hospital with COVID.
Wesley was warned that his ex-wife, who was 33 weeks pregnant, was extremely ill and doctors were unsure if she would survive.
Christie, who had never met her husband’s ex, sprang into action, assuring her husband that if she did not survive, they would adopt the baby and raise him as their own.
A woman reveals her experience raising her husband’s ex-wife’s baby, who tragically passed away just days after giving birth.
After being induced, his ex-wife gave birth to baby Levi at 33 weeks.
However, tragically he suffered a stroke five days later and passed away.
“When my husband told me what was happening, I told him we could take the baby,” Christie said.
Devastated, Christie (who was also a foster child) contacted Child Protective Services (CPS) and told them that she and Wesley wanted to foster Levi.
Levi was born on August 23, 2021 and weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces.
“It wasn’t easy. Because Levi was born in Texas and we lived in Ohio, we could have done a state transfer to take him in, but that would have taken at least a year,” Christie said.
‘During that time he would go to a foster home and we didn’t want that.’
Fearful that the boy would be taken into foster care while adoption was being considered, the family packed their belongings and moved 1,400 miles from Toledo, Ohio, to San Antonio, Texas.
In August 2021, Christie Werts, 49, and her husband, Wesley, 46, of Ohio, were worried when they received the phone call that changed their lives forever.
The person on the other end of the line revealed that Wesley’s ex-wife, who was pregnant, had been admitted to the hospital with COVID.
“I was a foster child myself and I didn’t want him to end up in the foster care system. We sold our house and moved to Texas. He was made available to me immediately,” Christie said.
‘Everyone was in agreement with the measure, as it was about keeping Levi out of the foster care system. It was difficult for the children, as they had settled in and had friends; we were already established in our city.
“We just wanted to make sure Levi was with us.”
Meanwhile, Wesley said he didn’t question adopting Levi.
“I didn’t think twice about adopting Levi. I fell in love with him immediately. I felt the same love for him as I did for my other children,” Wesley added.
‘It made me realize that I needed to stop making work a priority and focus on being a parent rather than a provider.
“I worked a lot when my other kids were younger and missed out on a lot of things. Plus, it makes me excited about the little things again.”
Once they arrived in Texas, they took in 11-day-old Levi and adopted him over a year later.
Christie moved to Texas in September 2021 and stayed with her husband’s ex-sister-in-law for a month before the family moved in October 2021.
“We all wanted to make sure Levi was with us, but the transition of the kids to another state was difficult,” she said.
Wesley was warned that his ex-wife, who was 33 weeks pregnant, was extremely ill and doctors were unsure if she would survive.
‘In the end everyone settled down, especially Levi’s half-brothers.’
Levi, now two, is “part of the family,” along with Christie and Wesley’s four children from previous marriages.
After living in San Antonio, Texas, for 16 months, the family returned to Toledo, Ohio, where they live on a farm.
Even though Levi was just days old when his mother died, Christie said she was determined to keep his memory alive.
“We have started having small conversations with him but he doesn’t fully understand it,” she said.
‘I’m going to put pictures in her room so she’s visible; we’re not going to hide her from her.
‘We’ll tell Levi that he’s very loved, but we know he’ll go through emotions, having his brother and sister with him will be good.
‘I’m going to write a personalized book and share with him his mom’s story.’
Levi, now two, is “part of the family,” along with Christie and Wesley’s four children from previous marriages.
Christie said Levi was “independent” and “full of life.”
“He wants to do everything himself. I’ll invite him to try things with me,” she said.
‘If I’m cooking I invite him over, we live on a farm, he’s very independent and very intelligent.
‘He knows the alphabet and is full of life and curiosity, he is the youngest in our family and the center of our attention.’
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