PICU Nurse Adopts Patient After Months of Surgeries

PEORIA, Ill. — Angela Farnan insists she was just in the right place at the right time. Others consider her a hero. Either way, Angela now has a new son after caring for him for months in the hospital.

Angela Farnan has worked as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse for over thirty years. She had no doubt seen many tragic situations in her career. Yet for some reason, the plight of this mother caught her attention. She couldn’t sit idly by and let the woman’s son, Blaze, go without the care he needs.

Blaze was born with a serious heart condition that requires surgery. He had his first surgery at only three days old. He will need several more surgeries in his first few years of life. Unfortunately, Blaze’s mother could not afford the expensive treatments that her son needs.

Fortunately, Blaze’s mother and Ms. Farnan had grown close during the months they spent together at the hospital. In fact, Blaze stayed in Ms. Farnan’s home for a short period of time after his first surgery. After the second surgery, Blaze’s mother asked if Ms. Farnan and her husband would consider adopting her son.

“[Blaze’s mother] made a heartfelt decision to ask us if we’d be willing to keep him on a permanent basis,” Farnan said. “It was an emotional time…She was in tears. Internally, we are ecstatic but sad for this mom who is feeling a loss.”

Blaze has since recovered from his surgeries and now leads a relatively normal life with his adoptive parents. His parents say he loves to dance to “Baby Shark” and Keith Urban songs.

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