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A nurse in Massachusetts always wanted to be a mother but thought her opportunity had passed. Then she realized her dream come true in a very unexpected place – work.
Liz Smith is the senior director of nursing at Franciscan Children's in Boston, and it was there that her life changed forever. Approaching 40 with no children of her own, Smith had previously learned that having a baby through IVF would not be an option for her.
"That was a bad day," she said in an interview posted on the hospital's website.
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But at the same time, a baby girl named Gisele, who was born at just 29 weeks, was being cared for in the children's hospital. Gisele weighed just 1 pound, 14 ounces when she was born. Her mother, who was facing drug addiction, could not care for her. She had complex medical needs, and after, while family members had stopped coming to visit.
"A few of the nurses at Franciscan's Children's Hospital approached me and asked, 'Have you put Gisele?' and I said, 'No. Why?' and they said, 'She's a perfect host,' "Smith told CBS Boston. "I have never considered fostering or adoption."
A week later, fate brought the two together.
"Literally, Gisele crossed my path in a stroller and we were locked up," she told CBS Boston.
The nurse and baby instantly and Smith began visiting the baby frequently. Gisele had several complications and medical setbacks, and Smith was by her side through it all.
Smith recounted to Franciscan Children's. "It was kind of my reward after a long workday."
The state took custody of Gisele because her birth parents were not fit to care for her. Smith Fostered Gisele, initially with a goal of eventually reuniting her with her birth parents. For a while, they come for supervised visits with the baby. Smith's goal changed to adoption.
"I remember certain nights, when I was hooked up to the feed and I was walking through the mirror and thought went to my head of losing her," Smith said. I to I,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "" "" "" "" "" "
Gisele would need to experience caregiver to help her live outside the hospital due to her developmental delays. It was clear that Smith was the right person for the job.
Gisele's birth parents did not appeal their rights being terminated, the hospital says, and there were no biological relative fit to adopt her. While Smith was connected to know Gisele would be well cared for, she was sad about the circumstances.
"I was gaining a goal they were losing her, and that's impossible," Smith said.
In her interview with CBS Boston, Smith said it was the power of Gisele together.
"To witness how [love] can be transformed into a life, to witness how it is transformed into a life of mine, is unbelievable, "she said" to finalize the adoption, Gisele banged the gavel at the courthouse. "A photographer captured the moment Gisele's later became Smith's daughter.
533 days after Smith first encountered Gisele, the two finally shared a last name. Gisele was 2 years old. Smith never expected it, but she quickly went to nurse – and Gisele went from frail preemie to beaming little girl. And now, they'll have each other for the rest of their lives.
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