’16 and Pregnant’ star Whitney Purvis reveals son Weston has died at 16: ‘Life is so cruel’

Whitney Purvis, who starred in a 2009 episode of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, is mourning the death of the son she welcomed on the show.

“This is so hard to write,” she began a Facebook post on Monday. “My beautiful son, Weston, has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don’t 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.”

Purvis, who welcomed her first child with Weston Gosa Sr., was one of six pregnant teens featured in the season. Four of them — Farrah Abraham, Maci Bookout, Amber Portwood, and Catelynn Lowell — went on to star in the popular reality series Teen Mom.

In her heartbreaking post, Purvis asked, “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.”

Then, she directed the message to her son.

“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.”

An hour later, Purvis updated her profile picture to one with a young Weston.

“Rest in Peace, my baby Weston,” she wrote alongside it. “I love you forever, precious. I’ll never understand why life has to be so cruel. You’ll always be my baby.”

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Weston’s stepmom, Amy Gosa, made her own Facebook post in which she said that an autopsy would be done soon. She said Weston had struggled with health issues including diabetes, but the family was “in shock” after being unable to wake him up on Monday. An ambulance transported him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, she shared.

“He was the most amazing son I could have asked for. He was brilliant, smart, funny and had so much potential in life,” Gosa wrote. “It doesn’t feel real. Please keep our family and Whitney in your thoughts and prayers as we mourn such a brilliant amazing life that was our son.”

Purvis and Weston Gosa Sr. broke up after their son was born. They got back together and welcomed a second son, River, who was born in 2014, before splitting again, per PEOPLE.