The continuation of life: NYPD officer’s widow gives birth to baby girl

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On the morning of July 25, the birth of a baby girl dispelled the clouds of Chen Peixia, whose husband Liu Wenjian, an Asian NYPD officer, was shot dead while on duty in 2014.

After being notified of her husband’s death, Chen was asked whether she wanted to freeze Liu’s semen, so she might have a chance to carry his child someday. With a firm “yes”, Chen tried to get pregnant via artificial insemination. She gave birth to a 6-pound, 13-ounce baby girl named Angelina two and a half years later.

Chen Peixia and her newborn baby, NYPD photo

Before she had the operation, Chen dreamed that Liu, dressed like an angel, handed over a baby to her and told her that it’s a girl. During her pregnancy, Chen also told her friend positively that she’s having a girl even without checking the sonograms. Coincidence or not, Chen was right. She named her newborn girl, Angelina.

Like an unexpected blessing, Angelina’s appearance not only healed Chen’s sadness of losing her husband, but also brought Liu’s parents joy and happiness. Liu’s mother said that Angelina was the good news that they could finally have since her son died.

Angelina and her grandparents, photo from uschinapress.com

Liu’s family immigrated to the United States in 1994 when Liu was only 12. Instead of following his parents’ willingness of becoming a doctor or accountant, he decided to become a policeman and devoted himself to public service after being shocked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, his life was ended at the young age of 32 by a mentally ill man who resented police.

Officer Liu Wenjian, photo from NYPD

The story of Chen and her husband also went viral on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

“Love beyond life and death,” commented @jianjiayuehua.

“Wish Angelina will grow up happily and healthily,” said @lydz001.