As Smith threw herself into being \u201cthe world’s greatest aunt\u201d for her 13 nieces and nephews, her siblings picked up on her pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always pictured Liz as a mom, since she\u2019s a nurturer by nature,\u201d said one of her sisters, Elly Smith, 40, a homeland security analyst with three boys.<\/p>\n
Liz Smith, who had hoped to conceive through in vitro fertilization, found out her health insurance wouldn\u2019t cover the treatment, and she couldn\u2019t afford it on her own. Her sister suggested adoption or fostering, but Smith didn\u2019t want to consider it.<\/p>\n
Then she saw Gisele.<\/p>\n
“Since the moment I met her, there was something behind her striking blue eyes capturing my attention,\u201d she said. \u201cI felt that I needed to love this child and keep her safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
After putting in a request to foster Gisele, Smith went to the baby’s hospital room every day after work to sit next to her crib and talk in a soft voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was behind developmentally, and I wanted to get her out of the hospital and get her thriving,\u201d Smith recalled.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHer new favorite song is \u2018You Are My Sunshine,\u2019 \u201d said Smith. \u201cAnd every time she sings it, I think to myself, \u2018You have no idea.\u2019 \u201d https:\/\/t.co\/79RxaaVJ1v<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Carrie Melago (@carriemelago) April 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n