Sometimes, the most needed person in your life appears when you least expect it.
This was the case for a nurse at Franciscan Children’s Hospital, who had always harbored dreams of motherhood.
One day, her gaze met that of a solitary baby girl, and their lives intertwined in a way that seemed like fate, fulfilling their mutual need for family.
Liz Smith, the Director of Nursing at Franciscan Hospital, had envisioned a life filled with the joys of motherhood.
Like many, she imagined she’d be married with children by her twenties. However, life had other plans.
Despite her deep desire to be a mother, Liz faced challenges.
She underwent several unsuccessful rounds of IUI, and when she learned her insurance wouldn’t cover IVF, it seemed her dream of motherhood was slipping away.
But then, a chance encounter with a tiny baby would turn her world upside down.
Baby Giselle had been in the hospital for five months without a single visitor.
Born weighing just 1 lb 14 oz, she was a ward of the state.
Giselle struggled with neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition resulting from exposure to drugs like heroin in the womb.
She also faced difficulties eating due to an oral aversion, hindering her development.
At three months old, Giselle was transferred to the NICU at Franciscan Children’s Hospital for a lung condition, where she stayed for another five months.
One night, while Liz was on shift, she noticed another nurse wheeling Giselle through the hall.
Intrigued, Liz asked, “Who’s this beautiful angel?”
The nurse explained that the baby’s name was Giselle and that she had been available for foster care for weeks, but no home had been found for her.
That night, Giselle captured Liz’s heart, and on her drive home, Liz made a life-changing decision: “I’m going to foster this baby. I’m going to be her mother.”
Liz wasted no time and submitted her paperwork to become a foster parent.
Just three weeks later, she received the wonderful news: she was going to be Giselle’s foster mom.
Liz and Giselle formed an instant bond.
Giselle began to catch up developmentally and even started uttering her first words.
When it became clear that Giselle’s birth parents were unable to care for her and no other family members were available, Liz took the next step and applied to adopt Giselle.
In October, Liz officially adopted Giselle, completing their family.
“Her new favorite song is ‘You Are My Sunshine,’” Liz shared, “And every time she sings it, I think to myself, ‘You have no idea.’”
Their heartwarming story is a testament to the unexpected ways in which families can be formed and the profound impact of love and care.
Watch their heartwarming story in the video below!
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