Christiana Neazer unexpectedly became a single mother and widow a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic, before she had even given birth to her first child. Losing her husband and becoming a new mother shortly after was an uphill battle that would leave anyone feeling defeated. Sadly, her own father also died from COVID just seven months later. Christiana began to worry that she would be raising a daughter in a world without a father figure or male role model.
But without even realizing it, the mom found love with someone who appeared in her life when she needed him the most. Andrae Reid and Christiana started off as just friends, but over the last two years, their relationship has grown and changed. Recently, Andrae proposed in the most epic way, and Christiana said, "Yes!"
Christiana and her husband Michael had struggled with infertility for five years.
The two had wanted to bring a baby into the world, but had difficulty doing so without help of fertility specialists. Christiana was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome when she was 24 years old, which made getting pregnant that much harder, she told Today.
During their pregnancy journey and trying to conceive, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and both Christiana and Michael contracted the illness. While Christiana recovered, Michael was hospitalized.
When Christiana got a positive pregnancy test, she couldn't wait to tell Michael.
She texted him the news and he thought it was a prank. Unfortunately though, Michael was in the intensive care unit and not doing well. He died just weeks later, in July 2020. Christiana found herself expecting her first child alone.
“I was pregnant and depressed and I wasn’t excited about having a baby anymore. I was struggling just to survive through it. If I hadn’t been pregnant, I’m pretty sure I would have harmed myself. If you just keep holding on, you learn you’re here for a reason," she told Today.
Christiana met Andrae Reid, who became a comfort and friend during her trying time.
The two were acquaintances at first, and Andrae would check on her frequently to see how she was doing while grieving her husband. After her daughter was born, Andrae checked on her even more, hoping to be a source of comfort during motherhood.
“I started to really recognize her personality and started seeing some gifts in her shine through. [Despite] the trauma she was going through, her resilience was really showing me a lot about her," Andrae told Today.
Christiana began to develop feelings for Andrae, but felt guilty.
Around the time her daughter Shiloh was born, Christiana thought about allowing Andrae to be more involved. But she felt a lot of guilt after losing her husband.
“The day before I had Shiloh I was like, 'I think I’m going to allow him to be more involved.' But you have guilt and shame attached to it as a young widow," she told Today.
But she said the way that Andrae was interacting with her daughter helped her get over some of that guilt. The two began dating shortly after.
The young mom said she knew Andrae would be there for her and her daughter because he loved her at her "worst."
“It’s beautiful because I was truly loved at my worst, so it can only get better from here as I continue to get better through different seasons of my life. He already saw me in my worst state. He allows me to just be free in my grief moments and I think that’s what love is — truly caring for someone in all of their seasons," she said.
The two moved in together last month andn then, Christiana got the surprise of her dreams shortly after.
With their friends and family in attendance, Andrae popped the question.
On July 25, Andrae planned a romantic proposal with their friends and family on the scene. Christiana had thought they were attending a friend's birthday party on a boat, but in reality, Andrae and his friends had decorated the boat just to celebrate their love.
In a video shared on TikTok, Christiana jumps for joy when she realizes what is happening. After a hard and trying year of loss, the newly engaged mother says you never know what life can have in store for you.
“It just shows me we really don’t know what’s gonna happen in our life and so I want to take advantage of the fullness of life. Do what makes you happy. You don’t know your last day on earth," she said.
