Liz Smith, RN, senior director of nursing at Brighton, Mass.-based Franciscan Children's hospital, said she always put her career before starting a family — until she met an 8-month-old patient named Gisele, reports The Washington Post.
Gisele was born prematurely with neonatal abstinence syndrome in July 2016. At 3 months old, Gisele became a ward of the state and was transferred to Franciscan Children's for specialized care. The infant did not have any visitors for five months.
Ms. Smith, 45, said she initially gave up her hopes of being a mother when she learned her insurance would not cover the cost of in vitro fertilization. However, when she learned social workers were trying to place Gisele in foster care, Ms. Smith said she knew she wanted to be her foster mom.
She became Gisele's foster parent in April 2017 and officially adopted her in October 2018.
"Since the moment I met her, there was something behind her striking blue eyes capturing my attention," Ms. Smith told The Washington Post. "I felt that I needed to love this child and keep her safe."
To view The Washington Post's full story, click here.