Nurse adopts baby left on own in hospital

A NURSE has adopted a recovering premature baby after no one came to see the little girl in hospital. Liz Smith, 45, first saw Gisele being wheeled down the corridor where she worked. Having been born at 29 weeks to an addict mother, Gisele needed weaning off drugs herself.

Weighing just 1lb 14oz, Gisele began life on a ventilator in Boston, Massachusetts, before being left to battle on her own. For five months her only visitor was Miss Smith, who came every night after work.

Miss Smith – pictured with Gisele – had just been told she was not a good candidate for IVF. Yearning for her own child, she was the obvious candidate when Gisele’s parents were deemed unfit and the state took official custody.

She told the Washington Post: ‘I went to see her every day. It was kind of my reward after a long work day. There was something behind her striking blue eyes. I needed to keep her safe.’ The adoption process for Gisele, now two, was finalised last October. In court, the judge said: ‘I stand in respect for you, Liz, because you deserve the respect from this room.’