The Story Begins: A Tiny Baby Fighting for Life
Every day, babies enter the world—some healthy, some struggling, and some far too early. But once in a while, a miracle arrives so small, so fragile, and so full of courage that it touches countless hearts.
This is the story of baby Ella, a premature baby born at just 23 weeks and 1 day, weighing little more than a loaf of bread… yet fighting for her life with the strength of a warrior.
It is also the story of the two NICU nurses—Taylor and Drew Deras—who refused to let her fight alone.
And ultimately, it’s the story of how love found a child who had nowhere else to go.
A Harsh Reality: Millions of Preemies Struggle to Survive
In 2020, global research from WHO, UNICEF, and The Lancet revealed that more than 13.4 million babies were born prematurely – about 1 in every 10 births.
Many of these babies grow up with lifelong health challenges. Some spend months—sometimes years—in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). And heartbreakingly, some go home… to nowhere.
But every once in a while – human kindness steps in.
And that’s exactly what happened to baby Ella.
A Chance Encounter in the NICU
In 2021, at the Methodist Women’s Hospital NICU in Omaha, Nebraska, nurse Taylor Deras met the baby who would change her life forever.
Ella was born extremely preterm – doctors weren’t sure she would make it through the night, much less the week.
She was tiny, struggling to breathe, relying on machines to survive, and fighting infections that many adults wouldn’t survive.
But Taylor saw something powerful in the little baby.
A spark.
A will to fight.
A desire to live.
And with that, a bond was formed.
Who Would Fight for Ella?
Ella’s biological mother was in her twenties. She struggled to survive herself. She had no stable home. No stable job. She was alone. And Ella’s father was never in the picture.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t take Ella home.
Eventually, the state intervened. Baby Ella – with oxygen tubes, a fragile body, and a long medical journey ahead—became a ward of the state.
She had no family.
No permanent caregiver.
No place to go when the hospital stay ended.
But what Ella didn’t know was that love was already watching over her… every day… through two pairs of gentle, caring hands.
Taylor’s Heart Already Knew
Taylor remembers the moment clearly.
“I knew I wanted to take care of her. I felt connected to her. I wanted to protect her… not just as a nurse, but as someone who believed she deserved a loving family.”
Through every feeding tube, every night shift, every scare, every tiny improvement – Taylor was there.
She watched Ella open her eyes.
She watched Ella strengthen.
She watched Ella fight through the impossible.
And somewhere along the journey…
Taylor’s heart whispered:
This is my child.
Eight Months… and Still No Home
Baby Ella stayed in the NICU for eight long months.
Eight months of:
• oxygen machines humming
• monitors beeping
• doctors shaking their heads
• nurses praying silently
• long nights of uncertainty
• and small victories celebrated like miracles
Ella eventually stabilized enough to leave the NICU – but she still needed round-the-clock care.
And she still had no home to go to.
That’s when everything changed.
The Deras Family Steps In
In December 2021, Taylor and her husband Drew – both NICU nurses—learned officially that Ella was in the care of the state.
They did not hesitate.
They applied to become Ella’s foster parents.
It didn’t matter that it would be hard.
It didn’t matter that the future was uncertain.
It didn’t matter that medically fragile children require extraordinary commitment.
They already knew one thing:
Ella needed them.
And deep down – they needed her too.
“I Loved Her Like My Own Child.”
Taylor said:
“First, I cared for her as my patient. But once we became foster parents, I loved her like my own child.”
It was not easy.
Ella required therapy.
Ella had delays.
Ella needed medical support.
Ella had trauma from her earliest days.
But Taylor and Drew were all in.
Drew shared:
“As a foster parent, the guard I had to protect myself disappeared. I realized this child needed me… and I needed her.”
Every appointment, every feeding, every therapy session – the Deras family was there.
They didn’t just give her a home.
They gave her a family.
And Then… A Dream Came True
After nearly two years of fostering Ella…
After hundreds of sleepless nights…
After countless prayers…
After waiting, worrying, hoping…
The moment finally arrived.
National Adoption Day – November 18, 2023.
In a warm room inside a courthouse in Charlotte, surrounded by friends, family, and love…
The judge said the words they had been longing to hear:
“She is now your child.”
And Ella – brave, tiny, smiling Ella – was finally home.
Forever.
Taylor said:
“It was what we prayed for. It felt like a dream come true.”
Drew added:
“The only day that compares is our wedding day.”
Little Ella Blossoms Into a Miracle
Today, Ella is walking, talking, laughing, exploring, and thriving like any other two-year-old.
She still receives speech therapy and support – but her progress is nothing short of incredible.
Taylor and Drew say they feel lucky to be her parents.
But everyone who hears this story knows the truth:
Ella is lucky because she was loved by nurses who refused to let her fight alone…
And Taylor and Drew are blessed because Ella chose them in her own little way.
What This Story Teaches Us
This is more than a story about adoption.
It is a story about:
• kindness
• humanity
• sacrifice
• second chances
• and the extraordinary power of love
It reminds us that:
🌸 Sometimes family isn’t blood – it’s love.
🌸 Sometimes miracles come in tiny bodies.
🌸 Sometimes the people who save us are the ones we least expect.
🌸 And every child deserves a home where they are wanted, cherished, and loved.
A Message for Our Momdadgrandco Readers
If you’ve ever cared for a child…
If you’ve ever loved someone who needed you…
If you’ve ever opened your heart to a stranger…
You know the power of compassion.
Stories like Ella’s remind us:
❤️ Love is not defined by biology.
❤️ Families are built through hearts, not DNA.
❤️ And even the smallest act of kindness can change a life forever.
May baby Ella’s journey inspire you today.
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