(WJW) — An Ohio woman has welcomed a healthy baby boy nine months after her husband’s tragic death.
Nate and Mariana Kuhlman, from Steubenville, celebrated their wedding Oct. 28, 2023, and then traveled to St. Lucia for their honeymoon. NewsNation affiliate WTRF reported that Nate died in a water skiing accident just three days after tying the knot.
“Nate was a wonderful husband, friend, son, and brother in Christ,” a GoFundMe set up for his funeral expenses read. “Those who had the blessing of a relationship with him would be able to tell a list of stories detailing what a fun, kind, and adventurous soul he was.”
According to the National Catholic Register, Mariana Kuhlman and her family prayed for a miracle after Nate Kuhlman’s death. Mariana Kuhlman is now the mother of Raphael Patrick, who was born on July 18, 2024.
Last Thanksgiving, nearly a month after her husband’s death, Mariana Kuhlman found out she was pregnant with Nate Kuhlman’s child, the Register reported.
On Jan. 14, 2024, Kuhlman made the announcement of her pregnancy on Instagram, while also wishing her late husband a happy birthday.
“Happy birthday my angel,” she wrote. “Since the first day I met you I always told you how much of a blessing and gift you were to my life. And that is still true to this day!”
“In the epic love that we shared, God has given us, given me, the greatest gift of my life,” the post continued. “He answered our prayers, and prayers of those around the world, just in a different way than we had expected, but still the GIFT OF LIFE; the miracle we are so overjoyed to finally share with you all.”
Kuhlman was reportedly using an app to track her menstrual cycle, which showed she ovulated days before her wedding. After giving birth in July, she announced the news on social media.
“Nate, our son is here,” she wrote. “Thank you for carrying me through one of the hardest days of my life! But the reward of holding our son in my arms was obviously so worth it!”