A young nurse saw a teenage mom struggling alone, and opened her heart and home to all four of them.
A Teenage Mother’s Impossible Challenge
Becoming a mother for the first time is overwhelming. But for 14-year-old Shariya Small, it was nearly impossible.
Alone and scared, Small gave birth to triplets at just 26 weeks, far earlier than the average 33-week gestation for triplets. Her babies, Serenitee, Samari, and Sarayah, were so premature they required months of intensive care in the NICU at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis.
That’s where she met Katrina Mullen, a neonatal nurse who would change her life forever.
A Bond Born in the NICU
Mullen noticed early on that Shariya came to visit her babies alone, with no visible family or support system.
“She’d be there alone for days at a time sitting at her babies’ bedside,” Mullen told Today.com.
Over time, the two formed a connection. Mullen shared that she had been a teen mom herself, having her first child at 16 before placing the baby for adoption. That honesty helped Shariya open up.
Their shared experience created a bond that went beyond the usual nurse-patient relationship. Mullen began teaching Shariya how to feed, swaddle, and care for her tiny infants, while quietly recognizing that the teenager was facing challenges far bigger than any mother her age should.
When the babies were finally strong enough to leave the hospital, Mullen gave Shariya her phone number in case she ever needed help. The calls came often.
From Caregiver to Family
When Mullen visited Shariya’s home about an hour away, she immediately sensed trouble. The living conditions were unstable, and baby Samari looked dangerously thin.
After doctors admitted Samari back to the hospital, Child Protective Services intervened and determined that Shariya and her babies would need to enter foster care.
“I knew it would be impossible to find a foster home that would take all four of them,” Mullen told Today.com. “No one was going to take a teen mom and her preemie triplets.”
So she made a decision that would forever change all their lives: she adopted them herself.
Mullen completed the certification process and became their official guardian, welcoming Shariya and the triplets into her family.
Now, the small apartment that once held quiet nights of worry is filled with baby giggles, bottles, and the joyful chaos of a new beginning.
A Home Built on Love
For Mullen, adopting the family wasn’t an act of charity, it was an act of love.
“She needed someone to show her she’s not alone,” Mullen said. “And those babies needed stability. It just felt right.”
Today, the triplets are thriving, and Shariya, now a high school student, is learning to navigate motherhood with confidence and support.
Their story has touched hearts around the world, reminding people that family isn’t always about blood, it’s about showing up when it matters most.
Featured Image screenshot from Youtube: Today