His Wife Died After Giving Birth in a Coma. Now Their ‘Miracle’ Baby Keeps Her Memory Alive (Exclusive)

This holiday season, Virginia widower Daniel White is focused on his sweet son, 17-month-old Noah, after a broken heart.

“He’s the baby we thought we’d never have — and he really is a miracle,” White, 44, tells PEOPLE of his child with late wife Pia Reyes.

Born by emergency C-section at 25 weeks and two days on July 6, 2022, Noah weighed just under 2 lbs, making him a micro-premature — babies who often have fragile skin, breathing problems and underdeveloped eyelids.

The premature birth marked a joyous moment in the midst of a medical nightmare: At 20 weeks pregnant, Reyes suffered a brain hemorrhage and was hospitalized. Then, at 22 weeks pregnant, she fell into a coma.

While the fate of his wife and unborn child remained uncertain, White held out hope, telling PEOPLE at the time, “There are so many things we fight for and hope for. It means the world to us.”

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But on July 19, 2022, Reyes died, leaving White to raise the little one without her.

“I know that Noah and I have a guardian angel,” he says.

Daniel White and Pia Reyes. courtesy of Daniel White

A planning and development analyst for Fairfax County, Virginia, White works from home in Herndon so he can be near his son and tend to his medical needs: Noah has a tracheostomy tube to help him breathe, a feeding tube, a ventilator and oxygen support.

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“People tell me, ‘I don’t understand how you could have done that,'” he says. “It’s not a choice. You save his life every day. And that is the important thing. We do what we need to do for him — and that makes us all better people.”

It’s been nine months since Noah was able to leave Children’s National Hospital in Washington, where he was transferred after his birth in South Carolina. Through all the ups and downs, White says, he relied on prayer to find strength.

“When I pray, I talk to her and tell her, ‘We could use some help,'” he says. “And things usually work out.”

Daniel White with his son Noah.

courtesy of Daniel White

He also relied on a small village set up to support Noah. Two nurses provide care for 16 hours each most days, while White’s mother, Janice White, a retired third-grade teacher who moved in with the father-son duo, also helps out. And Reyes’ aunt Annette lives nearby and visits every day.

“There are hard times, but family and support — that’s a lifesaver,” says White. “My mother was with me the whole way. Without her, it would be almost impossible.”

In a group chat, she updates all the doctors, nurses, friends and family around the world about Noah’s progress.

“They’re in awe, and rightfully so,” says White.

With pregnant wife in coma, Virginia man fights to save her and their unborn baby: ‘Miracles can happen’

Micro-premature babies often struggle with long-term challenges such as intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, blindness, cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease. As Noah continues to receive physical, speech and feeding therapy, he is growing into a happy and chatty toddler who wants to walk and move.

“I went back and looked at some of the pictures from when he was born to where he is now, and it’s just night and day,” White says. “He was born at 1 lb., 16 oz., and is probably close to 19 lbs. now. So we’ve come a long way.”

Daniel White with his son Noah.

courtesy of Daniel White

As a result, doctors gave the go-ahead to wean the boy off ventilators and feeding tubes while introducing solid food.

“He has some limitations right now, but in a year or two he probably won’t,” says White, who is determined to give his son a happy childhood.

In July, the group celebrated Noah’s first birthday with a Curious George-themed cake party.

Noah White.

courtesy of Daniel White

“It was definitely bittersweet,” says White, referring to his late wife’s absence.

But she keeps reminding him of Reyes, whose boy inherited her eyes, nose, mouth and almost “everything,” says White: “He definitely has a lot of Pia in him.”

Like his “sweet” mom, Noah also has an infectious personality, White adds: “He’s very lively. When he wakes up from his nap, he’s laughing. He smiles at everything, all the time.”

Noah White.

courtesy of Daniel White

Keeping her memory alive, the family often talks about Reyes. And whenever White talks about the boy’s mother, his son always looks at her picture.

“I tell him she’s his guardian angel and to watch over him,” White says. “As sad as it is, I think he’s in a better place.”

At hospital appointments, White finds reasons to stay optimistic by talking to other families with micro-premature babies who have faced and overcome similar medical challenges.

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“It’s very encouraging when you hear positive words,” he says. “You’re sure everything will be fine.”

He hopes that one day his son won’t even remember the time in his life filled with so many hospital visits and tubes and wires attached to him.

Daniel White with his son Noah.

courtesy of Daniel White

“There’s going to be bumps in the road, but we’re going to get through them,” White says. “Our hopes and ambitions are high. I think his possibilities are endless.”

Among the new memories little Noah will have this year: Christmas with family members, including his grandparents and Reyes’ sisters.

“They’ll be able to see their aunts and their cousins,” White says. “Some of them have never met him before. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family.

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Source: HIS Education