A premature baby who was taken away from her parents has found a new home -- all thanks to a nurse at the hospital where the little girl spent five months without a single visitor.
Gisele Smith, as she is now known, was born premature in 2016 at Franciscan Children鈥檚, a hospital in Boston. Weighing less than two pounds, she needed specialized care including a feeding tube.
鈥淪he was getting fed about 16 hours a day through her feeding tube and it was overnight while she was sleeping ,鈥� Liz Smith, the pediatric nurse who ended up adopting Gisele, told CTV News Channel on Monday.
Smith鈥檚 birth mother had used drugs and was apparently unable to care for her new daughter, who ended up in the custody of the state.
Nurses at Franciscan Children鈥檚 watched as Smith began to recover and grow -- all without receiving a single visitor. Some nurses attempted to play matchmaker between the girl and Liz.
Liz had been trying unsuccessfully to start a family. She wasn鈥檛 sure adoption was a path she wanted to go down -- but a bout of serendipity changed her mind.
鈥淪he was in a stroller with one of the nurses and I asked: 鈥榃ho is that sweet little angel?鈥� and they said: 鈥楾his is Gisele鈥� and from that moment on鈥 didn鈥檛 look back,鈥� Liz said.
The nurse began the fostering process the next day and was granted permission to adopt her last October.
鈥淪he was at such a critical point in development,鈥� Liz said. 鈥淎ll the providers on her care team really wanted her to get into a medical foster home as soon as possible.鈥�
Liz said Gisele still requires a feeding tube for much of her nutrition, but is otherwise in good health.
She hopes her story inspires those starting a family to consider adoption.
鈥淚 strongly encourage it,鈥� Liz said. 鈥淭here are so many children like Gisele that need a loving fostering and adoptive home. It can transform not only the child鈥檚 life, but also (their own).鈥�
