She wasn’t his mother. At least, not in the way most people define motherhood.
But when Levi’s life turned upside down, Christie Werts stepped forward with a decision that would change everything.
Christie had known hardship. As a child, she spent time in foster care. She knew the loneliness, the uncertainty, the ache of wondering if anyone truly wanted her.
So when she looked at Levi — small, blue-eyed, and suddenly without his mom — she saw a reflection of her own past. And she refused to let history repeat itself.
Then came the choice no one expected.
Christie packed her life, left behind familiarity, and traveled 1,355 miles across the country. She did it for one reason: to make sure Levi didn’t end up in foster care like she once had.
It wasn’t about obligation. She wasn’t biologically related to Levi. In fact, adopting her husband’s ex-wife’s child raised eyebrows and questions. But Christie didn’t care. For her, this wasn’t about genetics. It was about love.
Levi became her son the moment she chose him.
Not by DNA. Not by blood. But by the promise she made when she held him close: “You’ll never be alone.”
Christie gave Levi what every child deserves — safety, love, and a home. And in return, Levi gave her something equally powerful: the chance to heal her own childhood scars.
Today, Levi is thriving. His laughter fills the house. His blue eyes shine with a future full of possibility. And when he calls Christie “Mom,” it carries the weight of a love that biology could never define.
The truth is clear:
Family isn’t just about who you’re born to.
It’s about who shows up. Who fights for you. Who loves you enough to stay.
Christie proved that sometimes the strongest families are built not by birth, but by choice. And in that choice, Levi found more than a guardian. He found a mother.