Sixteen years ago, Weston Gosa Jr.’s birth was televised on MTV.
The reality show 16 and Pregnant documented the lives of pregnant teens including Weston Jr.’s mother, Whitney Purvis, who delivered him via C-section in April 2009. MTV’s cameras captured the drama surrounding the moment: In an unexpected twist, Purvis welcomed her son on prom night.
“Your monitor strip isn’t perfect,” Purvis’ doctor told her. “What that means is, we want to move toward you having the baby sooner rather than later. So we’re going to send you off to the hospital because this baby is ready to be born, I think.”
Later, Purvis revealed: “I spent the night in the hospital and they gave me Pitocin to induce my labor. The contractions were the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Things got even scarier when they said my baby wasn’t getting enough oxygen. So I had to have a C-section. And I don’t remember much after that. When it was over, my baby was perfect.”
Purvis’ mom was pregnant at the same time as her, and mother and daughter had issues following Weston Jr.’s arrival. Purvis, who was in a lot of pain after her C-section, moved in with her grandmother.
“The truth is, having a baby is more than I can handle at my age, so I have to rely on Weston for a lot,” she said on 16 and Pregnant.
On Monday, June 2, Purvis confirmed that her son had died at the age of 16.
“This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away,” she wrote on Facebook alongside a series of photos of the twosome. “He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just dont understand. Oh my baby is gone and I don’t know what to do with myself. He was so perfect. This is really my worst nightmare come true. How do you go on in life after losing a child? I’m in disbelief, this cannot be happening. I don’t want it to be real. I would do anything just to hold him. Words just can’t describe the pain I am feeling.”
She also spoke directly to her son, writing, “I love you so much, Weston Owen Gosa. God, I love you so much. You are my heart. I was so proud of the young man you were becoming. I just can’t go on without you. Rest in Peace, my angel. You are gone too soon. April 2, 2009 – June 2, 2025.”
In a follow-up post, Purvis added, “Rest in Peace, my baby Weston. I love you forever, precious. I’ll never understand why life has to be so cruel. You’ll always be my baby.”
A cause of death was not disclosed, but Weston Jr.’s, stepmom, Amy Gosa, revealed via Facebook that the family “tried to wake” Weston up at 7 a.m. on Monday morning but he was “not breathing.” (Whitney shared Weston Jr. with her ex, Weston Gosa.)
“We attempted CPR and called an ambulance. The paramedics attempted it as well and took him to the hospital in Gordon County where he was pronounced dead,” Amy wrote. “He had several health issues as well as diabetes. We are completely heartbroken and in shock. It was so unexpected.”
Amy called Weston a “brilliant, smart and funny” boy with “so much potential in life,” and asked people to keep her family and “Whitney in your thoughts and prayers as we mourn such a brilliant amazing life that was our son.”
Since her 16 and Pregnant stardom, Whitney had lost custody of Weston Jr. and her other son River. Last year, she was reportedly arrested for failing to make child support payments, according to TMZ.
