The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to let it get us down. Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
Today’s something good is a having a wide-open heart.
Shariya Small in the 8th grade, just 14 years-old, when she gave birth to triplets. The babies were born prematurely, weighing less than two pounds each, and spent 5 months in the NICU at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis, according to Today. Katrina Mullen was the triplets’ nurse and quickly grew fond of Shariya and the babies. Katrina had been a teen mom herself, so she had an inkling of what Shariya was going through. When they were discharged from the hospital, Katrina gave Shariya her phone number and they kept in touch.
The young mother and her triplets did not have a stable home life – they were living with an aunt because Shariya had no mother of her own. Katrina visited, bringing gifts for the babies to help as much as possible, but the reality was Katrina was sleeping on the couch and the triplets were sleeping in a playpen and her situation wasn’t good.
The Department of Social Services eventually informed Katrina that Shariya and her babies were being removed from their home. Up to four foster homes were needed, because it was unlikely that anyone would take in all four. Shariya gave the case worker Katrina’s number, hoping she would help.
Katrina, who has five children of her own, was moved by Shariya’s situation and, without hesitating, said yes. “I just kept thinking, ‘I have to do this.’ I knew Shariya was intelligent and resilient and she just needed a safe place to put her roots. I knew it would be hard, but we’d figure it out.”
And they did. For two years Katrina fostered Shariya and her babies. Then, this year, Shariya and the triplets were officially adopted into Katrina’s family.
“I’m so proud to be Shariya’s mom. She just amazes me every day. When she’s frustrated with the babies, she never raises her voice. She’s just blossoming into this incredible woman,” Katrina said. “Has it been easy? No! She pushes limits just like any other teenager. But I love her. I’m her mom — and I’m never going anywhere.”
Shariya is now 17 and has been accepted into college, with an academic scholarship, thanks to Katrina’s kindness.
Watch the video below.
Now it’s your tun… tell me something good!
