I'm raising the baby of my husband's ex-wife, she died five days after giving birth

A woman is lifting the lid on her experience raising the baby of her husband's ex-wife after his former spouse tragically died just days following childbirth.

In August 2021, Christie Werts, 49, and husband Wesley, 46, from Ohio, were engulfed in worry when they received the phone call that changed their life forever. 

The person on the other end of the line revealed that Wesley's ex-wife - who was pregnant - had been admitted into the hospital with COVID. 

Wesley was warned that his former spouse - who was 33 weeks pregnant - was extremely unwell and doctors weren't sure if she would make it. 

Christie - who had never met her spouse's ex - jumped into action and assured her husband that if she didn't make it, they would adopt the baby and raise the child as their own. 

A woman is lifting the lid on her experience raising the baby of her husband's ex-wife after his former spouse tragically died just days following childbirth

After being induced, his ex-wife gave birth to baby Levi at 33 weeks. 

However, she tragically 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 a foster child herself - reached out to Child Protection Service (CPS), and told them she and Wesley wanted to raise Levi.

Levi was born on August 23, 2021, weighing 4lbs 9oz.

'It wasn't easy. As Levi was born in Texas and we lived in Ohio we could have done a state transfer to foster him but that would take one year at least,' Christie said.

'He would go into foster care during that time and we didn't want that.'

Fearful he would be fostered while the adoption was being considered, the family packed up their belongings and moved 1,400 miles miles from Toledo, Ohio, to San Antonio, Texas.

In August 2021, Christie Werts, 49, and her husband, Wesley, 46, from Ohio, were engulfed in worry when they received the phone call that changed their life forever

The person on the other end of the line revealed that Wesley's ex-wife - who was pregnant - had been admitted into the hospital with COVID

'I was a foster kid myself and I didn't want him to go into the foster care system. We sold our home and moved to Texas. He was placed with me right off the bat,' Christie said.

'Everyone was onboard with the move as it was to keep Levi out of foster care. It was difficult for the kids as they had settled and had friends - we had been established in our town.

'We just wanted to make sure Levi was with us.'

Meanwhile, Wesley said he didn't question adopting Levi.  

'I did not think twice about adopting Levi. I fell in love with him immediately. I had the same love for him as I did my other children,' Wesley added.

'He has made me realize I needed to stop making work a priority and focus on being a dad more than a provider.

'I worked so much when my other kids were smaller, I missed a lot. He also makes me excited about the small things again.'

Once they arrived to Texas, they fostered 11-day-old Levi and adopted him 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 moved in October 2021.

'We all wanted to make sure that Levi was with us but transitioning children to another state was hard,' she said.

Wesley was warned that his ex-wife - who was 33 weeks pregnant - was extremly unwell and doctors weren't sure if she would make it

'Eventually everyone settled, especially Levi's half siblings.' 

Levi, now two, is 'part of the family' - alongside 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.

Despite Levi being just days old when his mom died, Christie said she was determined to keep his mom's memory alive.

'We have started having little conversations with him but he doesn't comprehend it completely,' she said.

'I am going to put pictures in his room and have her visible - we are not going to hide her from him.

'We will tell Levi he is very loved but we know he will go through emotions, having his brother and sister with him will be good.

'I am going to write a personalized book and share his mom's story with him.'

Levi, now two, is 'part of the family' - alongside their four children from Christie and Wesley's previous marriages

Christie said Levi was 'independent' and 'full of life'.

'He wants to do everything himself. I will invite him to try and do things with me,' she said.

'If I am cooking I will invite him, we live on a farm, he is very independent and very smart.

'He knows his alphabet and he is full of life and curiosity, he is the youngest in our family and the center of our attention.'