Imagine a tiny 14-year-old girl sitting alone in the NICU, staring at three fragile babies hooked to machines. That was Shariya Small in August 2020, an eighth-grader who had just delivered triplets at 26 weeks. The beeps, the wires, the fear it was overwhelming. Yet day after day she showed up, no lunch, no visitors, just quiet determination. Her story could have ended in heartbreak, but one nurse refused to look away.
- Triplets born at 26 weeks, extremely premature
- Shariya was only 14, still in middle school
- Spent over five months in NICU daily
- No family or friends visited regularly
- Nurse Katrina Mullen noticed her isolation
Katrina, a 23-year veteran of neonatal care, felt an instant pull. She saw herself in Shariya lost, scared, judged. Over weeks, small conversations grew into trust. Katrina taught feeding tubes and diaper changes; Shariya showed her TikTok dances. What started as duty became destiny. This is the true story of how compassion built a family.
1. The Lonely Vigil: A Teen Mom in the NICU
Shariya sat for hours beside three incubators, her triplets breathing with help. Serenitee, Samari, and Sarayah were tiny, fighting to grow. At 14, she should have been in algebra class, not learning to read heart monitors. But she came every day, often hungry, always alone. The NICU staff whispered where was her support? She kept her walls high.
Daily Realities of Shariya’s NICU Life
- Arrived early, stayed until visiting hours ended
- No packed meals or snacks from home
- Learned medical terms faster than schoolwork
- Rarely spoke about family or living situation
- Bonded silently with her preemies through touch
Katrina watched from afar at first, giving space. She knew pushing too hard would scare Shariya away. Instead, she offered small kindnesses a granola bar, a smile, a question about the babies. Slowly, the girl began to talk. Katrina’s patience became the first safe bridge Shariya had ever known.
2. A Shared Secret: Teen Mom to Teen Mom
One quiet shift, Katrina pulled up a chair and opened her heart. At 16, she too had been a teen mom. She had placed her son for adoption a choice that still ached. Telling Shariya wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. In that moment, the nurse became human. Shariya’s eyes softened. For the first time, she wasn’t being judged.
How Vulnerability Built Trust
- Katrina revealed her own teen pregnancy at 16
- Shared the pain of giving a child up for adoption
- Showed Shariya she understood deep shame
- Used personal story to break down walls
- Created instant relatability across generations
“I never judged her,” Katrina said firmly. And she meant it. Shariya began to share about the stares, the whispers, the fear. Katrina listened without flinching. Their age gap vanished. Two mothers, decades apart, found common ground in survival. Trust wasn’t given it was earned, one truth at a time.
3. The Phone Number That Changed Everything
As discharge day neared after 168 days, Katrina felt panic rising. Where would Shariya go? Who would help with three preemies? On impulse, she scribbled her personal cell number on a scrap of paper. “Call me anytime,” she said. “For anything.” She didn’t know it then, but that note would rewrite four lives.
The Promise That Became a Lifeline
- Gave personal cell number before discharge
- Offered 24/7 support for questions or tears
- Encouraged FaceTime check-ins with babies
- Became emotional anchor post-NICU
- Stepped in when no one else could
Shariya texted that night. Then every night. Crying, overwhelmed, unsure. Katrina answered every time “You can do this.” But texts weren’t enough. One day off, Katrina drove an hour to Kokomo. What she saw broke her heart: three babies in one playpen, Shariya on a couch, Samari failing to thrive.
4. The Home Visit That Sounded Alarms
Katrina walked into chaos. The triplets shared a single playpen dangerous for preemies. Shariya had no bed. Worst was Samari: skeletal, vomiting, covered in eczema. Katrina’s nurse instincts screamed. This wasn’t neglect it was desperation. She acted fast, getting Samari admitted. DSS got involved. Removal loomed. Then the call came.
Red Flags Discovered in Kokomo
- Triplets sleeping unsafely in one playpen
- Shariya sleeping on couch, no proper bed
- Samari diagnosed with failure to thrive
- Severe eczema and constant vomiting
- DSS launched immediate investigation
“The caseworker said they’re removing them,” Katrina recalled. Then: “Shariya wants to live with you.” Katrina already had five sons. Adding four more was impossible except it wasn’t. “No one else would take a teen mom and triplets,” she said. “I have to do this.” And just like that, her heart made room.
5. Becoming Foster Mom: A House Full of Love
Katrina completed foster classes in record time. Word spread. Friends flooded her home with cribs, diapers, bottles. Her living room exploded into a nursery “like a baby bomb went off,” she laughed. For 668 days, she fostered Shariya and the triplets. She changed diapers, warmed bottles, and held a scared girl through nightmares.
How Community Supported the New Family
- Donated three cribs, strollers, bouncy seats
- Filled closets with preemie clothes
- Transformed living room into safe nursery
- Provided formula, wipes, and toys
- Offered meals during chaotic early weeks
At first, Katrina did everything. Shariya watched, unsure. But love is a great teacher. Soon Shariya was bathing, feeding, soothing like a pro. Katrina stepped back, beaming. “Now she’s in charge,” she said proudly. A teen mom was rising confident, capable, fierce.
6. Shariya’s Transformation: From Scared Girl to Boss Mom
Under Katrina’s roof, Shariya changed. She enrolled in alternative high school and crushed it an A-average junior. Therapy helped her process trauma. She learned to ask for help. When she wanted to hang with friends, Katrina babysat. “I’m just backup,” Katrina grinned. Shariya graduated early, accepted to two colleges with scholarships.
Milestones in Shariya’s Growth
- Graduated high school early with A-average
- Accepted to two colleges with scholarships
- Attended therapy to build emotional skills
- Mastered preemie care routines independently
- Balanced motherhood and personal goals
“Everyone said I wouldn’t finish,” Shariya said, eyes shining. “Now I’m proving them wrong.” She wants to be a social worker to help girls like her. Katrina adjusted her work schedule to care for Samari’s feeding tube. College starts in August. The future is bright.
7. The Adoption Day: A Family Made Official
On February 6, 2023, a courtroom became sacred. Katrina, 45, adopted Shariya, 17. The triplets became her legal grandchildren. Tears flowed. Cameras flashed. The story went viral. “I’m so proud to be Shariya’s mom,” Katrina said. Shariya whispered, “I finally have a mom.” LaLa, the triplets call her.
Moments from the Adoption Ceremony
- Held on February 6, 2023, in Indiana
- Katrina legally adopted Shariya Small
- Triplets became official grandchildren
- Story shared on foster parent Facebook page
- Went viral, inspiring thousands nationwide
The triplets, now nearly three, count to 20 in two languages. The girls are therapy graduates; Samari keeps improving. They run to LaLa for hugs. “You need a hug?” they ask when she’s stressed. Katrina laughs through tears. “Being a grandma is my favorite.”
8. A New Normal: Chaos, Joy, and Endless Love
Life isn’t perfect. Shariya tests limits like any teen. Katrina sets them like any mom. But love fills every corner. A GoFundMe ensures college funds. Shariya tours Marian University. Samari’s tube comes out soon. The girls start preschool. This family built from crisis thrives on purpose.
Daily Joys in the Mullen Home
- Triplets call Katrina “LaLa” with giggles
- Count to 20 in English and Spanish
- Run for hugs when someone’s sad
- Shariya cooks dinner with confidence
- Laughter echoes from dawn to bedtime
“Has it been easy? No,” Katrina admits. “But I love her. I’m her mom and I’m never going anywhere.” Shariya smiles: “I’m not alone anymore.” From NICU strangers to forever family, their story proves one heart can change everything. Compassion isn’t charity. It’s courage.
