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Nate Berkus Finds Happiness With Husband And Daughter, Says Fernando Will Always Be A Part Of Their Lives

By Stacey Cole
Published on: 00:14 PST, Jan 26, 2016

Nate Berkus has had a rollercoaster of a life over the past 12 years. In 2004, his partner, Fernando Bengoechea, was a victim of the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in December of that year. While Berkus initially struggled to move on from his relationship and the incident, People reports that it is his current partner, husband Jeremiah Brent, who has really helped him heal and move on. In an interview on Oprah: Where Are They Now? Nate Berkus opened up about his husband’s support.

“I didn’t know how to articulate how to keep that and honor that [love] but still move forward without any guilt or fear around that. You [Brent] were the first person to come into my life and not be threatened or afraid to poke the damage and say, ‘That happened. Let’s talk about it. Let’s figure it out and how it can be part of our world in a way that’s healthy.'”

Brent spoke of how Fernando is a part of their love story.

“As a part of our love story, there’s no two ways about it. I oddly feel connected to [Fernando], and I honor that story. Our daughter will know who he was.”

Yes, Nate Berkus and his husband adopted a little girl, Poppy, earlier in 2015.

Berkus confessed to People last year that he has always wanted to be a father.

“I’ve always wanted to be a parent. I had hoped that I would have this chance, but I didn’t want to do it on my own.”

Brent added his own sentiments.

“Until recently, we didn’t think it was possible. But we’re fortunate to be legally married and things just fell into place. We’re really thankful.”

Nate Berkus spoke about surrogacy and how wonderful an experience it was for them.

“Surrogacy can be about science, it can be about money, or it can be about intention. We were really lucky to have everybody that was involved in allowing us to have our daughter be excited for us. Our paternal instincts kicked in almost instantly. She came out with her eyes open, looking around like she had been waiting for us.”

Berkus even admitted he loves changing diapers!

“I’m chewing on her knee caps when I’m changing diapers. Both of my grandmothers used to say, ‘I want to take a bite out of you.’ And I would think, ‘These crazy ladies! That is so gross.’ And now I get it. I never thought I would be so excited to be 10 inches away from a filthy diaper as I am. I live by her diaper schedule.”

It appears Nate Berkus is enjoying “Daddy Time” immensely.

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But Nate Berkus is no stranger to loss. Not only did he lose his previous partner in the 2004 tsunami, but last year he lost his father to brain cancer. Us Weekly reported in November that Berkus paid tribute to his late father as perhaps only a loving son can.

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“Last week my father, Michael Berkus, lost a short-lived battle with brain cancer. He was the most generous and funny man and my stepmother and brothers are devastated. This picture of us was taken at my wedding to @jeremiahbrent in May 2014, he was the only one who could make me laugh when I was as nervous as I was on that special day.”

Of course, Nate Berkus is working and living life, even as a father. He recently appeared as a special guest on his husband’s design show, Home Made Simply. With a loving husband and precious infant daughter, Nate Berkus is doing his best to move on from the tragedies in his life.

[Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images]

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