A heartwarming NICU nurse adopts a 14-year-old mother of a TRIPLETS baby – after watching the teen visit her babies in the hospital alone every day and realizing she has no support or family
- Katrina Mullen, 45, was working at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis
- Sharia Small’s triplets were in the neonatal intensive care unit after being born at just 26 weeks
- Sharia was alone, the nurse said, “for days at a time,” prompting her to intervene
A NICU nurse decided to adopt a 14-year-old mother of triplets after seeing her in the hospital day in and day out without support or a family.
Katrina Mullen was working in the neonatal intensive care unit at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis when she first met Humana Small.
Sharia, who was in eighth grade at the time, gave birth to Serenite, Samari and Saraya at just 26 weeks old with triplets – each weighing less than two pounds – who spent more than five months in the hospital.
Katrina, 45, said the young mum would be on her own for “days at a time” as she sat by the crib prompting her to intervene.
Sharia, who was in eighth grade at the time, gave birth to Serenite, Samari and Saraya at just 26 weeks with the triplets spending more than five months in the hospital.
Katrina Mullen was working in the neonatal intensive care unit at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis when she first met Sharia.
Katrina nursed Sharia and the kids for 668 days before officially adopting the teen in February.
Katrina begins to offer support to Sharia but the young man resists him at first.
But the nurse said she was able to start breaking down walls after revealing she was a teenage mom herself who put her son up for adoption.
Sharia was still hesitant to share information about her family life – but Katrina gave her her mobile number shortly before the triplets were discharged.
The couple exchanged frequent calls as the nurse offered her constant support to the often overworked young man.
But Katrina was worried and drove more than an hour to Kokomo, Indiana, where Sharia was staying with a relative.
She said she was upset by the circumstances and told today: “She had no place to raise children.”
Newborn Samary, who had had digestive problems since birth, was underweight and had eczema.
He was taken to hospital and was later diagnosed with “failure to thrive” – defined as slowed or stunted physical growth.
Katerina said she did not hesitate to welcome the young mother to her already bustling home
The nurse said she was able to start breaking down walls after revealing she was a teenage mom herself who put her son up for adoption.
Katrina had initially set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise $20,000 to “build a financial cushion” for Shariya and her now two-year-old children.
The situation was reported to the Department of Social Services and Katrina was stunned to receive a call from a caseworker.
She told the publication, “The caseworker said Sharia and her two children are being moved out of their home and then you go,” Sharia said she would like to come live with you. do you want that? “
Katerina said she did not hesitate and welcomed the young mother into her already bustling home with open arms.
Three of her children — SeQuayvion, 16, ShaKovon, 14, and JJ, 7 — live at home and she is also a mom to two others Sevonté, 23, and Shai, 22.
Katrina fostered Sharia and the children for 668 days before officially adopting the teen in February.
She had initially set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise $20,000 to “build a financial cushion” for Sharia, who wants to pursue a career in social work, and her now two-year-olds — but she’s already smashed the goal.
She said she wanted to be for her “future college experience and adventures… as she grows up to be a strong woman and mother.”
