Illinois Nurse Adopts Baby from Intensive Care Unit

At the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois, a little boy named Blaze was born with a congenital heart defect, known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

He underwent his first surgery when he was just 3 days old, and Blaze needed a second surgery, just months later.

Angela Farnana, a primary charge nurse at the Children’s Hospital cared for Blaze in the pediatric intensive care unit. She fell in love with this tiny patient, who had already endured so much in his short time on this planet.

Blaze’s biological family didn’t have the resources or finances to care for him, and they lived far from the intensive care unit. With permission from Blaze’s parents, Angela had been granted permission for a short-term guardianship. After Blaze underwent his second surgery, his biological mother courageously asked Angela and her husband, Rich, to adopt her son.

“It was quite an emotional day because my husband and I fell in love with him and it was getting close and closer to when we had to give him back,” Angela said.

“Becoming a parent for the first time, I can’t describe the feeling,” Angela said. “It was one of the best days of our lives.”

Now proud parents, Angela and her husband, Rich say Blaze has a sweet personality and loves dancing to “Baby Shark” and Keith Urban songs. This tiny patient had endured so much in such as short time but has brought so much happiness and joy to those around him. Truly a heart-warming story.