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.
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.
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.