Nurse Adopts NICU Infant Receiving No Visitors For Five Months

Nov 01, 2021 by apost team

A baby who had a difficult start in life hit the jackpot when she was adopted by one of the nurses that cared for her. Gisele was born prematurely in 2016, weighing only one pound and fourteen ounces. Born to parents with drug problems, Gisele was transferred to Boston, Massachusetts’s Franciscan Children's Hospital in October of that year.

Baby Gisele spent months there in the hospital’s neonatal care ward, never receiving any visitors or anyone to wish her well for five months. Hospital staff cared deeply for the little girl, eventually introducing her to Nurse Liz Smith.

Smith, who had always dreamed of being a mother but had learned she wasn't an ideal candidate for in-vitro fertilization, quickly developed a bond with Gisele. Although the infant's parents were still legally her caretakers at the time, soon after a judge took away their rights and the couple didn't appeal to get her back, as they were both dealing with addiction issues.

That was when Smith knew that she had met Gisele for a reason. As the little girl grew and became healthier, it was clear that the impact Nurse Smith had in her life was immense.

Smith went on to foster Gisele before finally being able to adopt her in Oct. 2018. That day was like coming full circle for Smith, who had always wanted to be a mom.

Nowadays, Gisele is thriving and her zest for life is evident. The mom and daughter appeared as happy as can be as they spoke to news outlets in 2019 while giving an update on their story. Let's take a look. 

While looking after Gisele in the hospital, Smith quickly developed a strong bond with the infant.

“Since the moment I met her, there was something behind her striking blue eyes capturing my attention," Smith told The Washington Post. "I felt that I needed to love this child and keep her safe.”

Always wanting to be a mother, Smith was heartbroken when she learned that she was not an ideal choice for in-vitro fertilization. But on the same day that she received the bad news, she also met Gisele. According to the Franciscan Children's Hospital website, Smith said:

“I went to see her every day. It was kind of my reward after a long workday.”

At this time, Gisele's birth parents were also still legally her guardians but since they were dealing with addiction issues they were deemed unfit to care for her and the state took custody. This was when Smith stepped in and with the support of those around her, began fostering Gisele.

At the time, Gisele wasn't in great health as she still got most of her nutrition through a feeding tube, according to Inside Edition. Furthermore, the children's hospital website states that her neurological prognosis was uncertain, while there were also delays in developmental milestones. This meant that Smith was ideally suited to take care of Gisele as she still required a good deal of medical attention. But with the utmost love and care from Nurse Smith, Gisele began to grow up stronger and healthier.

When Smith began fostering Gisele, the end goal was to have her reunite with her birth parents. But as time went on their visits decreased and the new goal for Gisele became to move toward adoption, "due to the lack of bonding and progression in the parent’s efforts," according to the hospital.  

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Smith recalls: 

“I remember certain nights, one in particular, when she was hooked up to the feed and I was walking by the mirror and the thought went into my head of losing her. I had to go there in my mind because it was still a reality, but it made me sick to my stomach. You can’t just love a certain percentage. You have to give it your all.”

When Smith eventually got the call that Gisele's parents hadn't appealed their rights being terminated and no other biological relatives were fit to parent either, she had mixed feelings. She said, per the hospital website:

“When I got the call that the parents’ rights were terminated, I imagined that it would be a day of relief. And it was a day I was really sad. I was really happy. But I was really sad for them. I was gaining her but they were losing her. And to try to battle addiction and being a mom, that’s impossible.”

Gisele’s adoption was completed in Oct. 2018 at the Brockton courthouse. The judge presiding over the case noted that while birth is a miracle, adoption is destiny. The judge’s words fully sum up how Smith feels about welcoming Gisele into her family. Speaking with reporters from Inside Edition, Smith confesses that while she always wanted to carry her own child, she feels that her meeting Gisele in the hospital that day was fate.

Smith and Gisele’s story has since touched hearts everywhere, with the mother-daughter duo making appearances on CNN and on NBC’s "The Today Show." When asked about Gisele’s condition in 2019, Smith told CNN that the child was thriving, and doctors were astounded by the progress she has made after such a difficult start in life. 

What do you think of Nurse Liz Smith and Gisele’s story? Do you know of any heartwarming adoption or fostering stories just like this one? Pass this story on to spread the word about this wonderful tale of family finding each other.