👶 From Patient to Daughter: The Miracle of Ella

In the soft, rhythmic hum of the NICU, nurses Taylor and Drew Deras had seen hundreds of fragile lives begin—but none quite like Ella’s.

Born at just 23 weeks and 1 day, weighing barely a pound, Ella’s chances of survival were slim. Her tiny body battled infections, breathing complications, and the daily uncertainty that comes with extreme prematurity. But through it all, nurse Taylor Deras was by her side—feeding her, comforting her, and quietly falling in love with the little fighter in the incubator.

“I don’t know why,” Taylor told her husband Drew, “but she feels like she’s meant to be ours.”

🎄 A Christmas Decision

As Ella grew stronger, the hospital prepared for her discharge. But there was a heartbreaking twist: Ella had no family to go home to. Abandoned and alone, she faced a future in foster care.

That’s when Taylor and Drew stepped forward—not just as nurses, but as future parents. Just before Christmas 2021, they became Ella’s foster family, bringing her home to love, warmth, and stability.

👨‍👩‍👧 A New Chapter Begins

A year later, on National Adoption Day, Taylor and Drew stood in court with Ella in their arms. The baby Taylor once cared for as a patient was now officially their daughter.

“She was my patient first,” Taylor said, “but once we brought her home, I loved her as my own. Now she truly is.”

🌟 Thriving Against All Odds

Today, Ella is walking, laughing, and thriving—a miracle child who turned two NICU nurses into parents and transformed a hospital story into a forever family. Her journey is a reminder that love doesn’t always begin in the delivery room—it sometimes begins in the quiet moments of care, compassion, and courage.