ICU Nurse Adopts Baby With Heart Disorder After Mom Pleads She Can’t Afford to Care for Him

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A baby born with a rare heart disease had to undergo two surgeries before his first birthday. In an incredible and heartfelt gesture, the nurse who was part of the infant’s care team decided to adopt him at the request of his mother.

For 32 years, Angela Farnan has been a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse at OSF Children’s Hospital in Illinois. While she was unable to have any children of her own, she considered her small patients as her own. “I treat any patient admitted to the PICU as though they are family, providing the best care, quality care. I treat the family with love and respect,” she explained, according to the OSF HealthCare Blog.

In June 2017, newborn baby Blaze was admitted to the PICU and had to have heart surgery at just 3 days old. Farnan was one of the nurses who looked after him. “I was part of the care team that took care of him after surgery and then continued to care for him as he was in the hospital for the next six and a half months,” the nurse said, according to WHOI.

In December 2017, Farnan and her husband Rick were asked to foster little Blaze, as he was due for another surgery in the following months, and his family didn’t have the resources to care for him. The couple agreed, even after being told they wouldn’t receive any financial aid from the government. “For me, it was about getting him in a normal environment. We were coming into cold and flu season, and we didn’t want him getting sick,” she shared.

While the baby was in their home, Farnan stayed in touch with his family. The bond between the couple and Blaze grew stronger. “We fell in love with him,” Rick Farnan told People.

It was in March 2018 when Blaze, only 8 months old, had to have his second heart surgery. “Going into the second surgery was very tough on us because we didn’t want to say goodbye to him,” Farnan said. “But we were prepared to give him up.”

Unexpectedly, after the operation, Blaze’s mother approached the Farnans with an incredible plea. His family didn’t have the resources to keep up with his care. With tears in her eyes, she asked the nurse if they would consider keeping the baby on a permanent basis. “It was an emotional time. She was in tears. Internally we are ecstatic but sad for this mom who is feeling a loss,” Farnan explained.

“She said she wanted to be a good mom, and I told her she was a great mom and never let anyone tell her differently. She made a very tough decision to do what she felt was right for Blaze,” Farnan said.

Blaze’s adoption became official in June 2018, and his new parents couldn’t be any happier. “I really feel that he has blessed our lives,” Farnan related. “He’s full of joy. His smile lights up the room.”

The child will have to undergo a third surgery at between 3 and 5 years of age, and he might need a transplant at some point in his life. But the couple consider themselves blessed to have him in their lives.

“I go to bed every night and thank God for the opportunity to be a parent. I pray over him every night. He is truly a blessing,” Farnan added.

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