A woman shares her experiences raising her husband’s ex-wife’s baby after his ex-wife tragically passed away just days after giving birth.
In August 2021, Christie Werts, 49, and her husband Wesley, 46, of Ohio, were overcome with anxiety when they received the phone call that changed their lives forever.
The person on the other end of the line said that Wesley’s ex-wife, who was pregnant, had been hospitalized with COVID.
Wesley was warned that his ex-wife, who was 33 weeks pregnant, was feeling seriously ill and that doctors were unsure if she would survive.
Christie, who had never met her husband’s ex, sprang into action and assured her husband that if she couldn’t make it, they would adopt the baby and raise him as their own.
A woman is opening up about her experience raising her husband’s ex-wife’s baby after his ex-husband tragically passed away just days after giving birth
After labor was induced, his ex-wife gave birth to baby Levi at 33 weeks.
However, five days later she suffered a stroke and died.
“When my husband told me what was happening, I said we could take the baby,” Christie said.
Christie, who was a foster child herself, became upset and contacted Child Protective Services, telling them that she and Wesley wanted to foster Levi.
Levi was born on August 23, 2021 and weighed 2.1 kilos.
“It wasn’t easy. Because Levi was born in Texas and we lived in Ohio, we could have done a state transfer to adopt him, but that would have taken at least a year,” Christie said.
‘He would end up in a foster home at that time and we didn’t want that.’
Fearing he would end up in foster care while adoption was being considered, the family packed up their belongings and moved 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) from Toledo, Ohio, to San Antonio, Texas.
In August 2021, Christie Werts, 49, and her husband, Wesley, 46, of Ohio, were overcome with worry when they received the phone call that changed their lives forever
The person on the other end of the line said Wesley’s ex-wife – who was pregnant – had been hospitalized 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 placed with me right away,” Christie said.
“Everyone agreed with the move, because Levi had to stay out of foster care. It was hard for the children, because they were settled and had friends – we were settled in our city.
“We just wanted to make sure Levi was with us.”
Wesley said he had no doubts about adopting Levi.
“I never thought about adopting Levi. I fell in love with him immediately. I had the same love for him as I had for my other children,” Wesley added.
‘He made me realize that I should no longer see my work as a priority and focus more on my role as a father than that of the breadwinner.
“I worked so much when my other children were younger, I missed out on a lot. He also makes me enthusiastic about the little things again.”
When they arrived in Texas, they took in 11-day-old Levi and adopted him just over a year later.
Christie moved to Texas in September 2021 and stayed with her husband’s former sister-in-law for a month before the family relocated in October 2021.
“We all wanted to make sure Levi was with us, but it was difficult moving children to another state,” she said.
Wesley was warned that his ex-wife, who was 33 weeks pregnant, was extremely ill and that doctors were unsure if she would survive.
“In the end, everyone was happy, especially Levi’s half-siblings.”
Levi, now two years old, is ‘part of the family’, along with their four children from Christie and Wesley’s previous marriages.
After living in San Antonio, Texas, for 16 months, the family moved back to Toledo, Ohio, where they live on a farm.
Although Levi was only a few days old when his mother died, Christie said she was determined to keep his mother’s memory alive.
“We’ve had some short conversations with him, but he doesn’t quite understand yet,” she said.
“I’m going to put pictures in his room and make sure she’s visible. We’re not going to hide her from him.
“We will tell Levi that we love him very much, but we know that he will also experience emotions. It will be good to have his brother and sister with him.
“I’m going to write a personal book and share his mother’s story with him.”
Levi, now two, is ‘part of the family’ – along with their four children from Christie and Wesley’s previous marriages
Christie called Levi “independent” and “full of life.”
“He wants to do everything himself. I’ll invite him to try to do things with me,” she said.
‘When I cook, I invite him. We live on a farm, he is very independent and very smart.
“He knows the alphabet and is full of life and curiosity. He is the youngest in our family and the center of our attention.”