New Mom Steps Out of the Shower After Giving Birth. Then Her Husband Does Something That Makes Her Cry (Exclusive)

Jordan Greene is Society and Culture writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. Her work has previously appeared on TODAY.com, The Forward and The Daily Orange.

One dad’s reaction to meeting his son for the first time had his wife in tears.

Callisa Reed had just emerged from the shower after giving birth to her son, Callahan, on Nov. 15, and sat on the bed. When she looked up, she saw her husband, Allen, in tears, gazing lovingly at Callahan. Upon seeing this, the new mom began to cry, too.

“In that moment, I felt incredibly fortunate to have such a devoted partner,” Callisa, 24, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Allen is typically a calm individual who rarely expresses his emotions, yet in that hospital room, I could feel his love pouring out to our son.”

In the moment, Callisa, a business administrator at a non-sport trading card company and former NHL cheerleader, reached for her phone to capture the unforgettable moment. Later, the St. Louis local decided to post it on TikTok, where it has since amassed 22.6 million views and more than 11,000 comments.

“you picked the right one mama🥹,” one user wrote.

“Do they still make them like this? May this love find me😭,” someone else commented.

Another person said, “marry him again.”

“Reading through the comments and reactions has been both heartwarming and bittersweet,” Callisa adds. “Many viewers remarked on how fortunate my son and I are to have a father who openly expresses his love. Others shared their own experiences of labor, lamenting the lack of emotional support from their partners and wishing they could have witnessed such profound affection.”

Throughout their relationship and pregnancy, Callisa says Allen, a 24-year-old licensed electrician, has been an unwavering source of support. The couple discovered they were expecting just days before his 24th birthday, and from that moment on, she says he showered her with love — foot rubs, flowers, ice cream and more.

“And he always made sure I had my favorite meals for dinner,” she adds.

When her water broke at noon on the day of Callahan’s birth, the couple enjoyed a final meal at Chick-fil-A before heading to the hospital. She adds how Allen was by her side the entire time, providing counter-pressure on her back, assisting her in and out of the shower and offering words of encouragement as she pushed.

“I am confident that my son and husband will have an incredible friendship, and I hope Allen teaches Callahan that it’s perfectly acceptable to express one’s feelings,” she says. “We will certainly share the video with him when he’s old enough!”

“I hope people take away how important it is to chose a partner that will always been there for you and your children,” she adds.