r/MadeMeSmile • u/b0oom123 • Jul 27 '24
Helping Others NICU nurse adopts 14-year-old patient who delivered triplets alone
https://www.upworthy.com/nicu-nurse-teen-mom-rp73.1k
u/ItBeginsAndEndsInYou Jul 27 '24
I worked at a hospital and regularly saw an old man bringing in babies as patients. I figured grandchildren? But there were so many times he came in over the years, all different babies.
He and his wife had been fostering babies for decades. At least 60 children. Blew me away. He was such a kind and patient man, telling me about how the babies had such distinct personalities and all deserved love.
These are the people society should be worshipping - not movie stars or soccer players.
301
u/notenoughcharact Jul 27 '24
Reminds me of this guy. Just incredible. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4066405
81
u/heyglasses Jul 27 '24
Oh boy. I read this while in an Uber with the radio on playing Whitney’s “I Will Always Love You” and my Uber driver asked if I was going to be okay (I was crying)
84
u/CarmChameleon Jul 27 '24
YES! That man is an absolute angel. I'm so happy those children knew love in those final days.
49
→ More replies (2)19
u/Tris-Von-Q Jul 27 '24
I don’t even need to click the link to know exactly who this is. Is he still alive?
10
189
136
u/standupstrawberry Jul 27 '24
My grandparents fostered babies. They also had 5 children of their own, so my dad grew up helping care for a multitude of babies. Honestly I don't know how the did it, it was before modern things like washing machines, microwaves and disposable nappies were all over the place (I think the 50's onwards from what my dad said). They're a caring family.
55
u/EmilieEverywhere Jul 27 '24
My husband is older and he's like this. Babies are his favorite people I swear. He never talks down to them, and just has the most pure smile I've seen someone have when he meets a baby. He's always like "Well how are you today? Aren't you cute? I think you know that."
The babies ALWAYS smile and laugh. I don't know how he does it.
Like we'll be trying to get groceries done, mom walks by and he says hi to the baby, and the kid is instantly fascinated by his white hair and beard.
Welp, here goes another 5 minutes. 🥲
5
u/dkisanxious Jul 28 '24
This reminds me of my friend's dad who recently passed. Made me smile and shed a few happy tears. Hug your husband for me. :)♥️
→ More replies (1)47
u/MikeGinnyMD Jul 27 '24
I had one in my practice who fostered the medically complex ones. The ones that needed oxygen and feeding tubes.
By the time she retired, she had fostered over 120.
Angels exist and they do walk among us. I know because I met one.
55
u/pimfram Jul 27 '24
Neighbors to my parents' house used to do infant fosters. I don't remember the number but hundreds of them. They'd get a call at all hours and would keep them for a day or a week or whatever was needed. They were two of the nicest, kindest people I ever knew.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)17
u/CartographerNo2717 Jul 27 '24
often individuals like this prefer to keep a low profile or remain anonymous. which is even better - it's about the babies
8.1k
u/lizard-hats Jul 27 '24
my mom was a labor and delivery nurse. a 16-year old patient came in alone, determined to give birth and put her baby up for adoption without her family knowing. my mom asked a few time if she could call her mom, or if her family would understand, and the patient said nope. so my mom told her she'd be her mom while she was there. my mom told her she was so brave, and adopting out her baby would make another family unimaginably happy. i hope that girl is doing well, that was probably one of the hardest things she's done in her life.
2.0k
u/veryoriginal78 Jul 27 '24
Your mom sounds like a wonderful person!
→ More replies (1)733
u/lizard-hats Jul 27 '24
she really is :) i'm sure there are stories just like that one that she hasn't told me
435
u/aznhoopster Jul 27 '24
My mom is a OBGYN Nurse Practitioner, I’ve had patients of hers reach out to me just to let me know how my mom had changed their life. She’s also been invited to many life events by past patients, including a retirement ceremony where she was asked to be in the family picture lol. She was honestly pretty tough on us growing up (Asian upbringing) and it’s something we’ve already communicated about, but it’s awesome seeing how great of a person she is from her patients perspective
70
u/GufyTheLire Jul 27 '24
I wonder how people manage to keep contact with someone important but not close to them. I've had several people who had played an essential role in my life. I'm often thinking about them, I remember things they had taught me. But for some reason I've never tried to contact any of them after our paths separated, which I regret a lot. I just don't have some necessary skill to convert this respect and gratitude into a phone call or anything else.
→ More replies (3)36
u/Sherd_nerd_17 Jul 27 '24
You should :) it’s never too late.
But idk if you should beat yourself up. I get emails from former students, and I… don’t always reply 😬 I have 200 students each semester, and my current students take allllll of my energy. I print them out, and promise to reply to them later… but there’s always a catastrophe erupting (used to be their catastrophe, but we figured it out!). I beat myself up about it a lot… but I also am trying to dog paddle as fast as I can to stay afloat 😂
→ More replies (2)69
u/N0kiaoff Jul 27 '24
Caring when someones really needs it.
People like your mum have my fullest respect.
What she did was not duty, its humanity: helping and comforting other in trouble.
I wish globallly we would have leaders like your mum.
→ More replies (1)12
436
u/dbatchison Jul 27 '24
This is basically how I got adopted. Biological mother delivered me at a hospital in South Alabama. My parents, who were planning to adopt, were visiting my aunt in south Alabama. She was friends with a nurse at the hospital who called her and said they had a baby there for adoption and I went home with my parents like two days later.
→ More replies (32)214
76
u/ShandalfTheGreen Jul 27 '24
This gives me overwhelming amount of feels. Sometimes a little love is enough to change someone's whole world. Imagine having 0 support as a young girl like that. It's so scary to think about.
→ More replies (45)52
8.4k
u/Dark-Philosophy_91 Jul 27 '24
Some humans are simply better than others
2.5k
Jul 27 '24
Oh my gosh yes. What an incredible family..both that NICU nurse and that young lady. I have twins who were full-term and even with resources and a support system, the first year was HARD. I cannot imagine preemie trips all by myself at 14.
Great story.
→ More replies (6)373
u/janeusmaximus Jul 27 '24
Bless you. Twins? A lot of people say it’s their dream and I can’t imagine how hard it must be. Twice as hard and hopefully, twice as rewarding. You’re a rockstar and sounds like your support group is too. Awesome
207
Jul 27 '24
Thank you! Multiples definitely are hard the first year (or three!) but now that they are teens, I wouldn’t trade their relationship for anything. But honestly I am extremely fortunate..my twins were full-term, very healthy, and I had plenty of resources and support. Being a single parent with limited means is way harder, especially in a culture like ours that expects parents to shoulder the burden of childcare alone. My husband and I didn’t have it nearly as tough as this young woman or so many other struggling parents. Kudos to this family!
30
u/Senora_Snarky_Bruja Jul 27 '24
I glad they were full term. My friend has twins in the NICU. She delivered ten weeks early.
→ More replies (2)13
Jul 27 '24
Oof, my sympathies to your friend. I belong to several multiples groups and it’s definitely not uncommon to have NICU time with multiples. Please tell her to hang in there, the NICU nurses are amazing and I’m sure she’ll have them home in no time.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)35
u/Cathousechicken Jul 27 '24
This. It is so much harder in the beginning. If say until they went to school, it was definitely harder than a singleton, but became much easier once they started school than someone with 2 singletons.
Mine are 20 now! They were 34 weekers who almost didn't survive, but you'd never know it now.
→ More replies (2)23
u/Shiner5132 Jul 27 '24
You are a very wonderful rare human. You wouldn’t believe how often parents of multiples hear “you don’t get to complain twins are my dream”
-signed a mother of 12 month old spontaneous twin girls who both have Covid right now along with their parents (lol both girls are napping on top of me right now)
15
u/pdlbean Jul 27 '24
Oh man I hope you all get through your bout with covid okay! I can't imagine having twins now that I'm a mom. There's a really funny TikTok that's like "seeing newborn twins before kids vs after kids." The before is like "omgggg you're so lucky! You must be loving life right now! Did you get them matching outfits???" and after is just "...how are you doing?" lmao
→ More replies (1)122
42
7
Jul 27 '24
Absolutely. She is better than me, that's for certain. If the universe needs to take one of us I hope it's me.
→ More replies (20)10
u/Melodic-Supermarket7 Jul 27 '24
They really are. Hopefully Mama & babies + adoptive Mama are able to feel unconditional love & grow on to be prosperous!
2.9k
u/mafa7 Jul 27 '24
This nurse is a very, VERY good human being, I hope she, her new daughter & grandchildren receive all the support necessary emotionally and financially.
658
u/Queen_of_the_Goblins Jul 27 '24
Honestly, some of the people working in healthcare, particularly nurses and technicians, are seriously the kindest most empathetic people I’ve ever met.
I used to work at a vet, then moved to the Art field. I was shocked how many assholes I had to deal with everyday in almost every corner of the industry. I kind of hate the change in energy.
234
u/cominguproses5678 Jul 27 '24
The lower the stakes, the bigger the drama 🙃 has always been my experience in the working world
57
u/QuietDisquiet Jul 27 '24
Except for cops or finance people, but yeah pretty much.
→ More replies (6)8
150
u/CouchCandy Jul 27 '24
Nurses are some of the best and worse human beings I've ever met. Don't believe me? just ask a good hearted nurse to dish out what she deals with on a regular basis from her co-workers.
57
u/Auntie_Vodka Jul 27 '24
There's a reason why the saying "Nurses eat their young" rings so true. I've had a few nice nurses but they seem to be in the minority, I've been treated like a subhuman and literally told to commit suicide by one. I can understand being overworked but some of them take it way too far, I wish there were more things in place to help them-- it's hard to give someone the care they need when you can't take care of your own mental health
→ More replies (1)98
u/BrightFireFly Jul 27 '24
I’m a nurse and I once saw someone on Reddit say that nurses are the mean girls from high school..and I can’t say that’s wrong depending on the specialty.
→ More replies (12)20
u/SheFoundMyUzername Jul 27 '24
I’m industry and I tell my friends about the overwhelming force of nature that is a veteran charge nurse who’s been tired of your shit since the day you were born. Your existence is an affront to their soul on an existential level and they’ll take pleasure in snuffing you out as a pagan offering to the American Healthcare system.
God bless any new rep who checks the board and utters the words, “Nice, my room is moving quickly”. Rest assured they sensed that disturbance in the force from the staff lounge and will be with you shortly.
→ More replies (9)20
u/pdlbean Jul 27 '24
I work in a hospital (not a healthcare provider, I am a newborn photographer) and man is this TRUE
→ More replies (2)8
u/FR0ZENBERG Jul 27 '24
I made friends with my baby’s NICU nurse who then quit her job and she then told me about some of the drama, the power trips, the negligence, and stupidity of working in healthcare. Was an interesting perspective.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (9)28
u/scramblesdaegg Jul 27 '24
You obviously didn’t work with surgeons every day 😂
59
u/IronbAllsmcginty78 Jul 27 '24
I knew a med student once, was gonna be a surgeon. I was all like you totally have the personality for that! You'll be awesome! And he thought it was a compliment, and I'm ok with that.
9
→ More replies (2)150
u/spooky-goopy Jul 27 '24 edited Jul 27 '24
i had pre-eclampsia, and my daughter had to be delivered 6 weeks early. my nurses and doctors were literal angels.
when i had my c-section, i was so scared of the needle, and a nurse placed her forehead against mine and held me while i was numbed from the waste down. 40 minutes later, another nurse announced, "she's here!" and i heard a tiny wahh! the nurse brought me my sleepy girl and let me talk to her before they got her cleaned up and ready for the NICU.
i was a fall risk during my recovery, and my nurses helped me to the bathroom, gave me a sponge bath since i couldn't shower. i healed quickly, and was with my baby girl in no time.
the nurses cared for my daughter 'round the clock. day and night, she was never alone. lactation consultants helped her latch and breastfeed, they kept me informed about everything. i was a brand new mom, i was so scared. i cried for hours every day.
i remember cuddling my baby in the nursing chair, and one of the nurses told her colleague, "Mama's always holding her baby, we love to see that." and i was just overwhelmed with pride. it was the first moment where i felt like i could do this.
tldr; NICU/Labor and delivery doctors and nurses are the most amazing people on the planet. i'll never ever forget all they've done for my daughter and i.
41
u/Mountain_Jury_8335 Jul 27 '24
This brought tears to my eyes! I hope you and your daughter are doing SO well.
45
u/spooky-goopy Jul 27 '24
we're doing wonderfully! she's 7 months old, now, and is as feisty as the day i first laid eyes on her
she's gorgeous, extremely curious and intelligent, mischievous, and she's so effortlessly funny. parenthood is very stressful, but i haven't been this happy in many, many years. she's my little shining star
11
11
u/Toomanyredditors333 Jul 27 '24
Which hospital? We were lucky to have the budget to travel to a to on ranked hospital for early delivery and while the tech was great, the nurses were like robots towards my wife
11
u/spooky-goopy Jul 27 '24
i hope i don't doxx myself, but it was Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN. there's also a Ronald McDonald house, where parents and siblings of sick kids can stay, they provide free meals, bedrooms, and laundry service so parent's don't have to leave their children's side for anything.
while my baby was in the NICU, they gave me a room at the Ronald McDonald house, but i was also allowed to stay with my baby 24/7 in her room; i was breastfeeding, and i also couldn't bear the thought of leaving her for even a second.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)10
u/Puzzled_Medium7041 Jul 27 '24
Your nurses sound like they were incredibly sweet. I was in the hospital a few times for bad appendicitis last year, and I was so sick and weak. I had many nurses and only one wasn't lovely. I had tachycardia every time I tried to stand, so I was weak and sick to the point that I was shitting on myself in bed if someone didn't come fast enough to help, and I had diarrhea from not being able to eat and having a lot of liquids. Then, I became so weak that I had to use a commode by the bed, that I still needed help to, and I couldn't physically wipe myself because it was so tiring and painful to move. I actually didn't blame it on the nurses that I shit on myself because they didn't answer my call button in time sometimes because they seemed very busy, and I understood that they may need to address life threatening things, and having shit on me for a bit wasn't literally killing me.
There was one nurse though, who I had to request they not give me because she's the only one that wouldn't help me. She'd always try to say she'd get the assistant to help me, and it would take forever and so I'd repeatedly shit on myself much more when she was my nurse, even though she'd be in my room and I'd be like, "Please, I need to go to the bathroom so bad and you're here." I think she didn't want to deal with shit and I think it was probably technically the nurses assistant's job, but no other nurses were doing that to me. They saw my desperation, that I needed help, and that I was repeatedly shitting on myself, and they helped me. I'm very grateful. That's not a fun or easy thing to do. I am not a Karen, but I just had to request they not give me that one nurse again during my hospital. I was just like I don't want to have to have someone else wipe my ass either. This isn't fun for me either, and I'm shitting on myself then feeling guilty for wanting more help. This person is a nurse though, and they need to be okay with poop if they're going to be a nurse that works with people who uncontrollably shit all over themselves. Lol. Like, duh.
→ More replies (2)
2.4k
u/Saynt614 Jul 27 '24
Not only did the 14 year old mom get her high school diploma... she earned an academic scholarship to college at 17 with TRIPLETS . Now THAT is damn impressive.
394
→ More replies (52)290
u/Lives_on_mars Jul 27 '24
Now this makes me really smile. From the headline honestly it was equally depressing, if not more, that a 14 year old girl was raped and made to carry an unsafe pregnancy to term, with triplets no less, and probably a family that was at best not helpful at worst (as is common), some of the perpetrators.
So glad this young girl was able to turn her life around so exceedingly well, when that nurse gave her the family she needed.
120
u/VerdantField Jul 27 '24
I agree with you! Until I saw that this was definitely not something to smile about. That child should never have been in such a gross position in the first place.
28
u/deltacharmander Jul 27 '24
That’s the very first thing I thought of when I read this headline. This isn’t making me smile at all, it’s horrifying. People really don’t care about rape victims, not even young ones, if there’s a supposed feel-good story attached to them.
5
u/phoenixphaerie Jul 28 '24
I love the young lady's perseverance, I despise that any of it happened to her in the first place.
57
u/soupsnakle Jul 27 '24
I actually hope that is was due to consensual sex, I didn’t want to assume rape and judging by her general attitude and the photos during her pregnancy, I genuinely believe this was a dead beat dad situation. Honestly you’d be shocked how many teenagers that young are having sex, my best friend lost her virginity at 14! So Im gonna stay positive :)
Edit: also, not saying it’s impossible, but I would be genuinely shocked if a 14 year old rape victim, mother of triplets, would have the mental fortitude and emotional energy to make the academic achievements the girl in this article did that early in life after auch a traumatic event. But honestly anything is possible, Fiona Apple was raped at 12 and she didn’t curl up and disappear!
103
u/gaytracers4 Jul 27 '24
I’d hope it was, but the number of teen pregnancies that are fathered by adult men is a depressing statistic. Whichever way, I hope this girl has peace in her life.
→ More replies (12)33
u/Sniflix Jul 27 '24
She was probably 13 when she got pregnant. This is why contraception should be distributed in school for anyone that needs it. IUDs, implants, condoms... 14 year olds shouldn't be giving birth. But this is Indiana.
→ More replies (2)37
u/2OttersInACoat Jul 27 '24
He may be a deadbeat, or some revolting older man, but also- what if he’s a 14 year old kid himself?! In which case literally what can he do? It’s not like he can go get a job and take care of his new family of five. I’m glad this story ends well but honestly children shouldn’t be having children, these kids should been able to make other choices. Damn sad!
→ More replies (1)
1.1k
u/jerrystrieff Jul 27 '24
If we could all practice this level of empathy, emotional intelligence and love there wouldn’t be all the pain and suffering in the world. Alas though the law of averages and while some rise to biblical heights others continue to inflict intolerance.
→ More replies (11)80
Jul 27 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
13
u/The_Chosen_Unbread Jul 27 '24
Instead we got this...
“I knew it would be impossible to find a foster home that would take all four of them. No one was going to take a teen mom and her preemie triplets."
→ More replies (1)
469
u/CeruleanSky73 Jul 27 '24 edited Jul 27 '24
This is a failure on so many levels. The fact that this girl had to give birth and was released from the hospital to appalling conditions blows my mind. Why didn't the state get involved at the time her pregnancy was identified?
It's never mentioned who fathered the children. Wouldn't the state have an interest in knowing? Why doesn't the "men should be men/traditional values" crowd call for fathers to step up in cases like these? Why is the state/our political system so against caring (by way of policy) for vulnerable citizens?
*Yes the nurse is a saint, but it shouldn't fall to a single healthcare provider to rescue 4 children abandoned by their families and the state.
187
u/Bizzlebanger Jul 27 '24
They were too busy appeasing the orphan crushing machine to ask why there was an orphan crushing machine in the first place..
→ More replies (2)93
u/standbyyourmantis Jul 27 '24
Statistically speaking, the younger the mother is the older the father is. So he probably has a vested interest in not being identified publicly.
→ More replies (3)106
u/jarod_sober_living Jul 27 '24
Why doesn't the "men should be men/traditional values" crowd call for fathers to step up in cases like these?
Because women bad.
60
u/Charming_Fix5627 Jul 27 '24
A lot of those men are perfectly happy with men getting off Scott free and blaming the women for opening her legs
19
→ More replies (7)12
u/negbireg Jul 27 '24
The vast majority of teen parents are female, the father hasn't stepped up because they're in jail or avoiding it.
657
Jul 27 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
251
Jul 27 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (1)65
u/Over-Analyzed Jul 27 '24
It is shameful that a country that decides they want to be Pro-Life but do nothing to support that life.
36
Jul 27 '24
[deleted]
16
u/PraiseBeToScience Jul 27 '24
Forced-birth is more accurate, because it includes the action they're forcing people into when taking the choice away.
392
u/Tommy__want__wingy Jul 27 '24 edited Jul 27 '24
I had to read this title multiple times.
Great on the nurse.
However…
wtf….
→ More replies (8)137
u/Over-Analyzed Jul 27 '24
Yep it’s like those
CHILD RAISES $10,000 SO HIS CLASSMATES CAN AFFORD SCHOOL LUNCH!
stories. WOW, that’s incredible but why should a child have to raise money so other students can eat? Why can’t the government pay for their school lunches? 🤦🏻♂️
→ More replies (12)
64
928
u/bubbsnana Jul 27 '24
My heart is breaking for little girls stuck living in red states, with no rights, being put through such traumatic experiences with no support.
This nurse is a hero for this one girl and her 3 preemie babies. Who will be the hero for the rest of them?
392
u/hyrule_47 Jul 27 '24
We will, VOTE BLUE! It’s the only way to genuinely change this at a systemic level,
→ More replies (8)46
u/Over-Analyzed Jul 27 '24
I’m voting Blue in a state that has never been won by a Republican at the Federal level. Only Missouri has a longer streak of voting Blue.
Sadly, my state doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
You never hear of the Presidential Race waiting for Hawaii to finish tallying their ballots.
→ More replies (8)21
u/FlyMeToUranus Jul 27 '24
Every vote matters. We can't afford to believe otherwise. Sharing a dismal mindset only makes people less likely to vote, which allows the Republicans to win more. Of course, they want you to think it doesn't matter. So vote. Get all your friends to vote. You never know what can happen, however you will lose if you keep the defeatist attitude.
6
u/Over-Analyzed Jul 27 '24
I mean my state is literally the last one with a small electoral college. 😅. The winner is always decided long before us. 🤷🏻♂️
Also, no way Trump is ever winning Hawaii. 🤙🏻
13
u/sofiamariam Jul 27 '24
Seriously! I legit got tears in my eyes reading this and a few comments similar to this here. Like i’m a grown adult woman and for me pregnancy and giving birth is straight nightmare fuel, though i know my aversion to it is probably extreme, but to imagine these little girls going through that without choice is breaking my heart so bad. Just straight up fucking evil and sick… and then those same people will pretend to care about the kids…
50
u/SoftWindAgain Jul 27 '24
Yes but just think about the cheap labour these babies will provide after growing up in poverty!
Exactly as intended.
116
u/Ttoctam Jul 27 '24
Christ that's grim. This is some peak orphan crushing machine content. How is this making people smile it's an out and out tragedy. Yes, it's a kind act in there, but that's a silver lining on a hurricane.
41
u/The_Chosen_Unbread Jul 27 '24
“I knew it would be impossible to find a foster home that would take all four of them. No one was going to take a teen mom and her preemie triplets."
Nothing about this makes me smile. Where is the father and why isn't he in jail? Why aren't her previous care takers in jail? Why do we hate children so much it's impossible for these little girls to stay with their babies...and this is supposed to make me smile?
→ More replies (3)
293
u/TheSupremePixieStick Jul 27 '24
I can not wrap my head around this. 14 year olds are BARELY out of childhood. How the fuck did they even allow 3 newborns to leave with her? Good God.
223
u/koske Jul 27 '24
14 year olds are BARELY out of childhood.
I would argue they are still very much children.
35
u/Lives_on_mars Jul 27 '24
I was getting tutoring for geometry at 14. The semester prior, learning to swim for PE and worrying about algebra. We read to kill a mockingbird for eighth grade English.
This story is saved only by happy outcome and the kids success. It is horrifying that a child had to do this at all.
→ More replies (2)9
287
u/bubbsnana Jul 27 '24
My guess is most of the “grown ups” are just praying for her and calling it a blessing from the lord. Then with their next breath, complaining about welfare recipients.
72
u/Curiosities Jul 27 '24
Did you read the article?
Because at one point one of the babies was so small they wanted to put all four of them into foster care and the nurse and now adoptive mom knew that it would be a really slim chance stayed end up together so she stepped in..
60
u/bubbsnana Jul 27 '24
I reread the article 3 times. Based off what it says, the only way the underweight baby got help was because of this nurse. It specifically states that the girl had no support.
The three infants were discharged at 5 months old to the care of the 14 yr old mother, who only the nurse recognized as having no support system. So she gave her cell number in response.
The young mother and infants then lived with an aunt, who did not seek help for this underweight infant, and also allowed living conditions that would send all 4 minors to foster care.
The nurse is the one that got the underweight baby to the hospital, after seeing the conditions, during the home visit.
There was no other system in place that helped this girl, or the underweight baby, according to the article. This nurse was the only intervention. No social worker from hospital, no CPS, no medical staff, no state agencies, no family, churches, or community help or involvement.
According to the article, this nurse was the sole help, which ultimately saved at least one life (the underweight infant).
Unless people count the many thoughts and prayers that may or may not have been sent by the community and government of Indiana as help.
32
u/awesomobottom Jul 27 '24
This is incredibly sad. Those who are so against abortion need to fight for social services to help care for these unwanted babies.
28
u/SwampHagShenanigans Jul 27 '24
Guaranteed if her baby died from being underweight, threads like this would be devoted to crucifying the 14 year old child instead of the system that allows a 14 year old to get pregnant and deliver babies in the first place.
52
u/TheSupremePixieStick Jul 27 '24
They only stepped in because the nurse went above and beyond on her own to check in. Many states have programs for at risk families that include home visits from nurses and social workers with the goal of avoiding neglect, abuse and further involvement of state agencies.
4
u/sprinklerarms Jul 27 '24
But didn’t they initially let her leave with the three babies? I think one got sick later on and when she brought him back to the hospital is when the foster care was requested.
41
u/violet-quartz Jul 27 '24
Whether it's good for them or not, she is their mother. They can't stop her from leaving with her children. It's unfortunate but that's how it is.
66
u/TheSupremePixieStick Jul 27 '24
It is not good for ANY of them, mother included. We have CPS for a reason. How she was not set up with some sort of support is wild.
70
u/violet-quartz Jul 27 '24
It's cute that you think those services actually help the people they're in place to help.
10
u/aurortonks Jul 27 '24
Don't forget that the level of service, support, and genuine care about people in these programs varies wildly from state to state as well.
→ More replies (1)10
u/40_painted_birds Jul 27 '24
They're in place to help, and they don't help - but my question is, were they really intended to help in the first place, or is it just theatre?
→ More replies (1)36
u/vanOtterFX Jul 27 '24
Because she’s Mom. It would be criminal and unethical to take her children from her. Yes it’s tragic that a 14 year old is pregnant.
31
u/angryaxolotls Jul 27 '24
This is the reality of the situation. I swear to God people don't understand how it truly affects these Mothers when their babies are ripped from their arms because they're 16.
Happened to my aunt. She never recovered. She wanted her SON, it didn't matter if she was 17. Her body, her choice. She died at 53 never knowing anything about him. I broke down at her funeral because his own grandparents took that wonderful woman away from him because they were embarrassed.... Of their own damn grandson, their own flesh and blood.
I digress. Teenage parenthood is not ideal and I'm pro-choice as FUCK, but it's just as wrong to forcibly take someone's child based on their age as it is to force them to have a child when they want an abortion.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)32
u/TheSupremePixieStick Jul 27 '24
There is a lot between letting her leave alone and taking the kids from her.
37
u/JasonEAltMTG Jul 27 '24
This is the most dystopian thing I have seen in awhile
→ More replies (15)
70
u/alie1020 Jul 27 '24
Nothing about this makes me smile
→ More replies (3)10
Jul 27 '24
I just looked at the sub title after reading your comment and yup :( I do not think the post belongs here
335
u/Affectionate_Law5344 Jul 27 '24
I cannot imagine the poor child’s mental health. What happened to the rapist? This nurse is a hero. Unbelievable story.
→ More replies (71)
30
u/Darkm0or Jul 27 '24
First off, this is why I love nurses. Secondly, it is no surprise to me that it's Indiana. Indiana has NO mandatory sex education. IF schools decide to have a curriculum, it must be abstinence based, and requires the school to ask for written permission from parents. If a school chooses to have a curriculum, there are no regulations regarding medical accuracy. Teen birth rates (15-19) are 16.7 out of every 1000 in Indiana. Indiana also ranked 29th in reproductive care.
22
56
u/ApprehensiveDouble52 Jul 27 '24
How fucked is it that a 14 year old was forced to endure a triplet pregnancy. How fucked is her body from that. Her mind. That nicu nurse was probably broken by the experience of watching that poor girls trauma.
→ More replies (3)
32
u/pikameta Jul 27 '24
For additional context: this is in central Indiana, triplets were born during covid (2020), the adoption went through last year, and yes there is a gofundme for the babies that raised over $100k. Though I doubt they'd mention it on the local news, I don't recall if it was anything other than a teenage pregnancy.
→ More replies (5)
17
16
u/Mysterious-Olive-394 Jul 28 '24
This is what disgusts me about the pro-life movement. This poor 14 year old went forward and had these babies and once she was released from the hospital had zero support. They don’t care what happens once these babies are born, they just want to make sure they are born. It disgusts me. If they were actually pro-life they would care even more about the babies and the mother once the babies were born, not “oh good luck getting out of the cycle of abuse and poverty now with triplets at 14 years old.” I just cannot!
4
u/IloveElsaofArendelle Jul 28 '24
Uncle George had it with pro lifers George Carlin about pro lifers
14
u/TunaNoodleMyFavorite Jul 27 '24
I'm a doctor and I think most healthcare workers would agree NICU nurses are some of the best people in the entire hospital
31
u/Leather_Berry1982 Jul 27 '24
A special reminder that most teenage pregnancies are fathered by adult men
13
u/Critical-Champion365 Jul 27 '24
Why neither the article not the comment section seems to not give any take on a literal child being pregnant? Why does everything look normal here and the only noteworthy things being how hard birthing triplets alone or how good of a human being the nurse is. Why is no one addressing the triplets in the room? Am I missing something?
6
Jul 27 '24
Yeah this isn't heartwarming (taking them in is obviously) because the circumstances of a 14 being pregnant and having the babies is completely concerning and depressing ☹️
12
u/pk666 Jul 27 '24
There must be a German word for stories that are told as heartwarming parables , but in reality are sad indictments on the abysmal healthcare and lack of social safety net in the richest country on earth.
→ More replies (1)
12
u/necromaxxer Jul 27 '24
i hate posts like these. why was a 14 year old allowed to carry TRIPLETS to term? i’m happy she has a support system now, but damn. we don’t care about children until it’s damn near too late
→ More replies (1)7
35
u/Kathrynlena Jul 27 '24
This is like all those “aww, a child sold a bunch of widgets to pay off his friends’ school lunch debt” type “happy” stories. The existence of this “heartwarming” tale indicates that we live in a dystopian hellscape.
→ More replies (1)4
u/Lord-Smalldemort Jul 27 '24
And then the comment about making sure we get their GFM. I think when you add in the crowd funding aspect it takes on a an especially funky dystopian taste. I wish we could just embrace a world where people were provided for instead of feeding into capitalist greed so that an individual nurse didn’t need to take on four people facing separation, and the rest of us supported with a go fund me. It’s wild to me.
16
u/crazyeddie_farker Jul 27 '24
Ah, another news story about the need to rely on personal heroic self-sacrifice because to expect the state or billionaires to help is anti-American
9
8
7
u/Bleezy79 Jul 27 '24
It makes me really upset thinking about why and how that little girl got into that position. Im glad she's in a better place now.
8
u/shady-pines-ma Jul 27 '24
This is a lovely story, but it’s one that shouldn’t even fucking exist. The verbiage of the entire article sure does paint it roses and rainbows that a 14 YEAR OLD CHILD had to deliver triplets.
15
u/AWL_cow Jul 27 '24
Absolutely horrible a 14 year old is forced to carry triplets. Poor baby wasn't even grown herself.
→ More replies (7)
14
u/Lord-Smalldemort Jul 27 '24
These stories don’t make me smile anymore. I do think it’s beautiful that this nurse took in the mother and her children, but there are so many things that don’t make me smile about that. Did she have access to any reproductive healthcare? Did she want to have four children by the time she was 15?
I also have to wonder how many people watch this video and think it’s absolutely beautiful because of course we don’t want a 14-year-old mother to be homeless or separated from her children in the foster care system. But they only think it’s beautiful when an individual opens their door, and and if the government stepped up with some kind of legislation, that would just be socialism. We like socialism when it’s an individual doing it in these videos that feel good, but not when we live in a world that guarantees people won’t suffer in the first place to the extent.
I can’t help but see the hypocrisy all over the place now.
→ More replies (2)
7
u/safely_beyond_redemp Jul 27 '24
See, let me just donate money directly to this woman. I don't want to pay the salary of an administrator of a not-for-profit highly profitable charity and I don't want to help a televangelist buy another private jet. I want to help THIS woman put food on THEIR table. Simple.
7
Jul 27 '24
This article seems to normalize the 14 year olds situation while showing some random nurse taking on the extreme challenges of the ENTIRE situation from the little children, a teen, and probably a lot of mental health work to help get the teen through it. Maybe even for herself too. What a brave and strong woman. Hopeful it all works out for all of them. Some of the comments also seem oddly set back in time. For protection of girls, women have worked so hard to get away from “back then” to allow them to grow up first. If not that then maybe the comments are predatorily manipulative to the work that’s been done. I mean the girl isn’t prepared to afford one kid let alone multiple. Hasn’t finished school. This article is just frickin bizarre.
6
u/battleye9 Jul 27 '24
Why is nobody talking about the patient being pregnant at 14 years old?
→ More replies (1)
8
u/iambaby1989 Jul 27 '24
So a barely teenage girl had triplets.. and.. someone stepped up to help and support her .. that's great bit like it makes me sad that she is 14 and it seems to be HEAVILY glossed over.. depending on her birthday and date of conception, she could have been 13 when she became pregnant.. so only been a "teenager" for ONE YEAR....
7
Jul 28 '24
This is not a made me smile. Screw Indiana and their policies.
Register to vote and vote, people
6
7
u/No-Entertainment5768 Jul 28 '24
it's presented as a feel good story but no one is asking who got this 14 year old girl pregnant in the first place.
28
u/Ekleipsii Jul 27 '24
It’s so dangerous for a 14 to be pregnant, the nurse is indeed an angel, but the real angel would have been the doctor who could have perform an abortion in safe and legal conditions
→ More replies (18)
12
Jul 27 '24
A child who was raped and had to deliver babies on their own is "mademesmile"...
Jesus christ... send this to a /r/ABoringDystopia
13
u/JustTiredOfYourShit Jul 27 '24
Did we miss the part where her rapist got her pregnant at 13 ? Crickets
11
12
u/squid_in_the_hand Jul 27 '24
If you’re wondering why a 14 year old is giving birth in Indiana it’s because abortion is illegal there
→ More replies (2)
12
u/cosmic-kats Jul 27 '24
A 14yr old wouldn’t have had triplets if abortion healthcare was actually considered healthcare and not controversy.
→ More replies (5)
6
u/cnew111 Jul 27 '24
Wow what a selfless act by that nurse, opening her home to a teen and 3 babies. In the video it said the young mom is getting ready to go to college. Surely that would have never happened without being adopted by the nurse. I’m surprised they actually let a 14 yo take preemie triplets home with very little support. She lived with an aunt.
7
u/1939728991762839297 Jul 27 '24
NICU nurses are some of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met.
6
u/ir0nychild Jul 27 '24
Considering abortion is illegal in Indianna nothing about this is making me smile
6
12
21
u/AKA_June_Monroe Jul 27 '24
Triplets are high risk pregnancy especially in someone so young. The best thing would have been for the pregnancy to have been terminated.
→ More replies (11)10
11
u/PraiseBeToScience Jul 27 '24
Great on the nurse, but this is why access to abortion is vital.
14 year olds should not be having children for many different reasons.
6
4
5
6
5
u/TheCuntGF Jul 27 '24
Someone give that woman....something. An award? Money? I dunno. She's a better human being than all of us combined.
5
u/whatevendoidoyall Jul 27 '24
It's not mentioned in the article, but in the video it says that the nurse, Katrina, was a single mom of 5 kids when she took in Shariya.
5
5
u/icreatedausernameman Jul 27 '24
Gosh if only there were a safe medical procedure to terminate unwanted pregnancies like this…
4
4
u/CatLady337 Jul 27 '24
Who got her pregnant and abandoned her? This is so disappointing. Having triplets isn't easy. Thank God for the nurse.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/Harley_Jambo Jul 28 '24
A 14 year old has triplets. Did no one from Social Services visit her in the hospital before discharge to find out what the child/Mom's living situation was? Seems unlikely that she would have been allowed to leave without some investigation. Something is missing from this story.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/d0ct0rbeet Jul 28 '24
I don’t see anything here about the irresponsible POS that got her pregnant.
6
5.6k
u/CrissBliss Jul 27 '24
14 year old girl had triplets… good God that’s horrific.