Tufts NICU Nurse Fosters Children Exposed To Drugs
BOSTON (CBS) - Two nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit have treated some of the sickest and tiniest babies and have brought more than a dozen home over the years as foster children. Dr. Mallika Marshall introduces you to this special family.
Like many of us, the Sepulvedas are decorating gingerbread houses for the holidays, but this is no ordinary family.
Shelly Sepulveda is a NICU nurse at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. She and her wife Tami Sepulveda, also a NICU nurse, have taken in 16 foster children over the past seven years, almost all of them exposed to drugs at birth.
"I wanted to give them the childhood that I had growing up," says Shelly.
"Foster care has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done," explains Tami.
They have adopted three of the kids, Tyler age 6, Shaelin and Abby, both seven, and they hope to adopt a two-year-old foster child currently in their care. They also have a 10-year-old biological son, Samuel as well as a dog a cat, and a bird. Things can get pretty crazy in their Braintree home.
Most of the children have ADHD, one has autism, one needed major skull surgery and one has HIV. They're all on daily medication.
"It's challenging at times," says Shelly, "But if you give these kids an environment they can thrive. And you see that as your reward as a parent."
Dr. Jonathan Davis, the Chief of Neonatology at Floating Hospital says Shelly and Tami are doing a remarkable job raising their family. "Having someone like Shelly who really steps up to the plate in Boston who cares for these kids who are not easy kids to care for I think is something for us all to be very proud of," says Dr. Davis.
The kids are proud of their big blended family, which they say comes with benefits. "Sometimes they play with me," says Tyler. "I have more people to play with," adds Samuel. "This is a nice family," says Abby. And Shaelin says what she loves most about her family is her parents.
But if you ask those parents if their family is complete, they look at each other and laugh. "I can't ever say we're done," explains Tami.
Tami and Shelly know that adoption and foster care aren't for everyone, but they say there are things we all can do to make a difference in a child's life, like donating new baby items to a local DCF office, becoming a mentor to older children, or even getting involved in state and local government.
