Indiana teen mom Shariya Small was just 14 years old when she gave birth to triplets. The babies were born premature at 26 weeks and spent the first four months of their lives in the NICU. The nurse assigned to her was a mother of five who had worked in the NICU for 23 years, per Scrubs Magazine. The two quickly formed a close bond, exchanging numbers, FaceTiming, and meeting in person to discuss parenting. The NICU nurse even helped the teen mom do nighttime feedings so she could sleep.
When Shariya ran into some trouble with the Indiana Department of Child Services after one of her infants had to be hospitalized, her NICU nurse, Katrina Mullen, ended up adopting her and all three of her infants so they could stay together, despite having kids of her own, reported USA Today.
More from CafeMom: How Becoming a Teen Mom Saved the Life of a Mama Struggling with Multiple Mental Disorders
The teen mom and NICU nurse formed a fast friendship.
When Shariya had to spend four months in the NICU with her three preemie infants, Mullen told her, âI will be there for you,â reported Scrubs Magazine. Even though the two did eventually form a deep and lasting friendship, the teen mom was not a fan of her NICU nurse at first. She reportedly said that Katrina was âfirm about the hospital's rulesâ and that didnât sit well with her initially, according to USA Today.
In spite of first impressions, Katrina didnât care and said, âI knew that I was going to be in their life forever in some capacity," reported USA Today. The young mom was not ready for all the responsibilities involved in parenting such as feedings, diaper changing, and being responsible for three infants, Scrubs Magazine noted.
When Shariya and her infants were discharged from the NICU at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis, the mother headed back to her home in Kokomo, Indiana, with no father in the picture, per the magazine. The two exchanged phone numbers, and Katrina followed through with what she told the young mom.
The NICU nurse went above and beyond even before adopting the mother and her triplets.
After the two exchanged numbers, there were in-person meetings and phone calls to exchange parenting advice.
Katrina also would make a two-hour round-trip drive to visit Shariya and her babies. As Shariya said, âShe would drive from Brownsburg to Kokomo just to see me and the babies for like an hour. A trip that took a total of two hours round trip," according to Scrubs Magazine.
When one of Shariyaâs babies, her son, had to be hospitalized, it led to the Indiana Department of Child Services investigating her home. When the officer in charge of her case decided the children needed to be in foster care, the teen called Katrina.
âJust from being a nurse, I knew there would not be many foster homes that would take a teen mother with three kids. … I didnât want them to be separated. I wanted them to stay together," Katrina told Scrubs Magazine.
More from CafeMom: NICU Nurse Reunited with Patient 30 Years Later
The teen mother is thriving now.
There was an adjustment period for Katrina when Shariya and her three small children moved into their home. âItâs been great. Stressful? Yes. Sleepless nights? Yes. But worth it? Absolutely," she said via Scrubs Magazine.
With support from Katrina, Shariya has been able to go back to school to work on her education and hopes to go to college to become a nurse like her adoptive mom.
The NICU nurse started a fundraising page to help the teen mom with college costs.
The young mom will attend college in the fall. Katrina wrote on the GoFundMe account that it would âbe a financial cushion for my adopted daughter Shariya (16) and her now 2 year old triplets.â It's raised more than $4,500 thus far.
Katrina also said since the adoption story has gained national attention, she wants to set up college funding, housing costs, and a car for Shariya and her babies and be able to help support her âfuture college experience and adventures this coming fall as she grows into a strong woman and mother.â
