New husband devotes life to looking after wife's ex who she divorced after car crash

When people fall in love later in life, they often have to agree to take on their other half's baggage from former relationships - whether that's children, the ramifications of a messy divorce or emotional hang-ups.

But this woman had a very unusual two-for-one offer to present to her future husband - that he would have to sign up to taking on the care of her ex-husband, too.

James Armstrong said yes to his wife Kris' proposition and the pair now look after her disabled former spouse Brandon Smith together at their home in Texas.

Take a look at this:

James, 37, married his partner in 2015, seven years after she received a terrifying phone call alerting her to the fact that her then-husband had been involved in a horror car crash.

Kris had been married to auto mechanic Brandon for two years when he suffered a traumatic brain injury which left him in a coma for two months after his vehicle was T-boned by a truck.

He miraculously managed to pull through, but his life was a lot different than before.

As a result of the crash and the brain damage he sustained, Brandon was left with reduced mental and physical capacity at the age of 24, meaning Kris went from a wife to a caregiver overnight.

CBS

The 38-year-old bravely stood by him: handling his hospital appointments, advocating for him, sorting out his finances, and organising his move into a nursing care facility as he required around-the-clock care.

"I had made vows that I would be with him in sickness and health, and I took that very seriously," Kris told CBS News. "I didn't stay married to him, but I wanted to take care of him."

After finalising their divorce, Kris took the steps to become his legal guardian instead so she could continue to care for and comfort him.

CBS

And this is a woman of her word - a new husband and three kids later, her ex-husband remains a huge priority in her life.

James said the fact that she and Brandon came as a package deal 'didn't bother him at all,' adding: "It intrigued me more because I knew that Kris had a good heart."

After meeting Kris in 2014 and falling head over heels, Brandon pledged to shoulder the responsibility of caring for her former husband alongside her.

James said: "It’s not just loving her, it’s loving Brandon, too."

Kris added: "We change Brandon together. I can do it by myself but it’s very, very hard. James helps me, that is such a gift of love."

Their kids adorably refer to Brandon, who the couple bring to their home 'every week' and take him out to restaurants with them, as their beloved 'uncle'.

CBS

Kris added: "They love to snuggle with him on the couch when he's hanging out. There's a lot of love there."

If you though James was the world's sweetest guy already, get ready to grab the Kleenex and start sobbing.

Discussing the hopes of Brandon making a recovery, Kris said of her husband: "He [James] said if some miracle treatment happens for people with a brain injury and Brandon can be healed, he said, 'I would want you to be with him, you were with him first'."

Who's chopping onions in here?

Turning to him during the interview, she continued: "And I don’t think that’s gonna happen, but just the fact that, you’re a very special person, you really are."

He then tearfully responded: "I also told her if anything happens to her, or she passes away, I will fight for guardianship.

"He will have another advocate."