The nurse adopts a girl who did not have visitors while in hospital
The nurse adopts a girl who did not have visitors while in hospital
The director of nursing in Massachusetts, who went to the end of each working day to visit a girl who had landed in the hospital, is now the girl's mother after she volunteered her care when the state acquired her care in October 2016. The daughter of Liz Smith, Giselle was born in 29 weeks of pregnancy in July 2016, and was diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome because of her mother's use during pregnancy.
Giselle, who was born weighing less than 2 pounds, spent three months in the NICU unit on ventilator support before being transferred to the Franciscan Children's School, and she developed verbal abuse. It is alleged that the baby had no visitors during her time at the Franciscan school for children, except for the 45-year-old Smith, who recently learned that she was not a good candidate for artificial insemination.
With support from family and friends, Smith decided to take care of Giselle, who was then 9 months old, hoping to help her thrive outside the walls of the hospital. Initially, Giselle's parents supervised weekly visits, but according to the code, these people became rare, and the aim of the reunion went to adoptions.
"When I received a call to end parental rights, I imagined it would be a rest day," said Smith, who fell in love with the young girl. "It was a really sad day, I was really happy, but I was really sad for them, I was earning it but they were losing it, trying to fight addiction and being a mother is impossible."
Smith said that when the judge entered the day of their adoption, October 18, 2018, he said, "When the judge walks in the room, everyone stands respectfully, but today I respect you, Liz, because you deserve respect from this room. It's destiny, that's what brought you together. "
From the developmental point of view, Giselle flourished under Smith's care. While she still receives nutrition through the feeding tube, Smith has helped her start eating some solid foods such as pizza and avocado.
"From the moment I met her, there was something behind her blue eyes that caught my attention," Smith told the Washington Post. "I felt I needed to love this baby and keep it safe."