NICU nurse Katrina Mullen discovered that finding a home for a 14-year-old mother who had just delivered triplets would be impossible. This woman made a life-saving decision, and her story has now gone viral, leaving thousands of people in awe. Let’s learn more about her and the wonderful thing she did for a young, desperate mom.
Katrina works as a newborn intensive care nurse at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis. She already has a reputation for going above and beyond, but the lengths she went to save the lives of triplets and their 14-year-old mother were just beyond comparison.
Katrina knew for sure that finding a foster home for a 14-year-old mother who had just given birth to triplets would be impossible. So, she officially adopted the teen mom, Shariya Small, and her babies. It all happened more than 2 years after the duo met when she gave birth.
Shariya Small was in the 8th grade in 2020 when she delivered her triplets, Serenitee, Samari, and Sarayah. The babies were born prematurely, at just 26 weeks, and spent more than 5 months in the NICU at the hospital where Katrina works.
During their time in the NICU, Katrina noticed the young mom visited her triplets alone and didn’t have much support. “She’d be there alone for days at a time sitting at her babies’ bedside,” she says.
At first, the young mom did not want to share anything about her life, but she eventually developed a special bond with Mullen. This happened after she learned that Mullen gave birth to her first child at 16 and then gave it up for adoption. Before they were discharged, Katrina gave Shariya her phone number and asked her to call if she needed anything.
The 2 women kept in touch from then on, and Katrina visited Small at her home in Kokomo. The nurse noticed that Shariya was sleeping on a couch, and the babies were placed together in a playpen.
“It was not a place for her to raise babies,” says Katrina.
The woman also noticed that one of the triplets wasn’t doing well. He was later hospitalized as he was underweight for his age.
A worker from the Department of Social Services later called Katrina and said the young mom and the babies were being removed from their home and that Shariya wanted to live with Katrina.
Katrina fostered Small and her triplets in her home for 688 days. Shariya eventually graduated from high school and learned how to care for her children properly.
Now, Mullen’s adoption of Small is finally over, and she has also adopted the 2-year-old triplets. Katrina has created a GoFundMe campaign for the young mom to help her build the “financial cushion” for her growing babies. More than $100,000 has been raised through the fundraiser since it started.
Not all adoption stories are alike, and there are cases where the adoption happened against all odds. Such is the story of Jerry Windle, a single gay man who adopted an ill kid and was able to raise an Olympic champion. The stories of Katrina and Jerry prove that all you need to become an adoptive parent is a loving heart; the rest will undoubtedly come your way.
This is such a heartwarming story. She seems like a very kind and generous person to have adopted all four of them. I'm so happy for all of them, that it could work out this way. I'm glad that this young mother was able to develop a bond and trust with her, that made becoming a family possible. I hope that everything continues to improve for all of them and wish them the very best on their journey together.
one of those little baby girls had some serious attitude! 😆
