Christie and Wesley Werts have redefined what it means to create a blended family. When they fell in love and got married five years ago, their union brought together Christie’s children, Megan and Vance, with Wesley’s children, Austin and Dakota.
As of January 2023, the Ohio couple has expanded their family to five children by adopting 2-year-old Levi, the son of Wesley’s late ex-wife. Levi's biological mother passed away just four days after his premature birth at 33 weeks, succumbing to drug addiction and complications from COVID-19.
At the time of his birth, Levi was placed under state custody without a first name or birth certificate.
“When I learned about Levi, I immediately told Wesley that we should take him,” Christie shared in an interview with The Daily Mail. Her motivation extended beyond the fact that Levi was the half-brother of two of her stepchildren. “I grew up in foster care myself. While I had mostly positive experiences, I didn’t want Levi to go through that system,” she explained.
A Dream and a New Beginning
Interestingly, before Levi’s birth, Christie had recurring dreams of a blue-eyed, blonde-haired boy—a vision that would later feel prophetic.
“Before we knew about Levi, Wesley and I had considered trying to have a child together,” she told Newsweek. “Given my age, we knew fertility treatments might be necessary, but I decided to let life take its course.”
Levi’s journey to becoming part of the Werts family wasn’t without challenges. The toddler was in Texas, so Christie and Wesley made the life-altering decision to sell their home and move to the state to navigate the lengthy adoption process. Complicating matters further, Levi’s biological father still held parental rights despite struggling with substance abuse. Until those rights were legally terminated, the family was unable to leave Texas.
After a 16-month ordeal, Levi was officially adopted in January 2023. Reflecting on the unique situation of adopting her husband’s ex-wife’s son, Christie said, “It might seem unusual to some, but for us, it felt natural at the time.”
Overcoming Doubts
Christie admitted that while she was committed to adopting Levi, she initially had some concerns. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hesitant at first,” she told The Daily Mail. “I was walking into a relationship with a child I had never met, and I worried that the circumstances might prevent us from bonding. But the moment I met him, he captured my heart. I also felt an overwhelming instinct to protect him.”
Life as a Family of Seven
Today, Levi has settled comfortably into his new family. The other children are relieved to return to a sense of normalcy, free from caseworker visits and home inspections.
“He’s amazing—the king of the house!” Christie said proudly. “We’re all very close. He doesn’t understand everything we went through yet, but one day, I’ll tell him how hard we fought to make him part of our family.”
Christie also shared the family’s milestone on social media:
@cjthemom5
“Our adoption is official!!! After 17 months!!! #adoption #son #loveyou #ourstory #foryou #fyp”
Levi may not grasp the full story now, but his family’s love and dedication are a testament to the extraordinary bond they share.