EMOTIONAL TEENAGE BOY COMES INTO A HOSPITAL SURPRISING THE NURSES WITH A SHOE-BOX

 

Jeannie Joseph is a neo-natal nurse who has worked for over 20 years. She has had her fair share of remarkable childbirth stories to fill your ears with. 14 years ago, she herself played a major role in a story of her own that has now become huge. It all started with a shoe-box.

Jeannie works at the Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, on April 24, 2004. The emergency department called her from the special care nursing room. When she came, she saw a teenage boy filled with tears, holding a shoe-box. Jeannie was in utter shock when she looked inside the box.

Kept Inside A Shoebox

There was a 3-pound baby sleeping in the shoebox. The baby was wrapped in a dish towel and a doll’s onesie. The teen stood by when the hospital staff took the baby into isolation. After three hours, they managed to stabilize the baby. Jeannie noticed that the boy was in tears the whole time so it got her curious enough to approach him for answers.

A Teen Dad

The boy told her that he and the baby’s mother who was 15, wanted to give the baby up. Jeannie agreed to his request but informed him that after this, it would terminate his rights as a parent so she would no longer have the authority to update him regarding the baby. She gave him two parental bracelets and time to think things over.

Words Of Comfort

The couple came to see their baby at the hospital. Cherish Coatesl, the mother, was clearly saddened keeping her head down. Jeannie gave a hand and told her, “You know that you saved his life, right? I don’t want you to hang your head. You gave him the best chance you could.”A bond immediately formed between the two.

Listen To Me

Cherish confided in Jeannie, who gave her a shoulder to cry on. Because her parents wanted her to join college she admitted that they kept her pregnancy a secret. Her own mom had given birth when she was 15, and Cherish was raised by her grandparents, whom she didn’t want to let down. She told Jeannie the horrific way she gave birth to her child.

The Scared Teenagers

Cherish managed to hide her growing belly in school until her cramps started to occur. She would deal with her labor pains locking herself away in her room after school. She summoned her boyfriend as soon as she birthed the child. The boy climbed a ladder to get to her bedroom. After feeling helpless and scared, he came and brought the baby to the hospital leaving an explanation before going away.

A Love Letter

The teen parents laid the baby in a shoebox with a Winnie-the-Pooh doll. Then they added a touching note that said: “We love you, we are just not able to raise you. We want his name to be Allen Corey and we will hope to be able to see you again. God will be watching over you.” The teen dad walked for eight miles to the hospital with the baby in the box.

A Premature Baby

The baby suffered from hypothermia after being born 6 weeks before Cherish’s due date. The baby was severely dehydrated and the doctors tried to treat his injuries from the scissors they used at home to cut his cord. It was a miracle to see him breathe because most premature babies cannot do so. “There was someone looking down on him,” said the doctor who treated him. But Cherish found it impossible to give him up.

Easing Her Doubts

Jeannie wanted Cherish to be aware of all the possibilities, including open adoption. She also wanted to inform her family. Cherish recalls, “She didn’t talk to me like I was just some stupid teenager. She talked to me like I was a person.” Eventually, the girl decided to tell her mom who she expected would understand as she had experienced the same thing with Cherish.

The Family’s Warm Acceptance

Cherish lead her mother to the incubator and she was astonished. Cherish remained speechless waiting for Jeannie to come to the rescue. Her mom surprised her when she said that she wanted to hold the newborn. A few hours later, her grandmother arrived at the hospital. After feeling the overwhelming sense of support and love she decided to keep him.

Saying Their Goodbyes

The baby, now named Allen, left the hospital after 4 weeks. Jeannie made Cherish to promise finishing school. Her grandparents thankfully offered to look after the baby while Cherish had her school hours. But Cherish enrolled in an alternative school with daycare. She explained that “I did not want to place that burden on them.” Cherish and Jeannie lost touch until 12 years had passed.

Growing Up

Cherish sent a message on Facebook to Jeannie in 2016. She is 29 and living in Glendale, Arizona. She now has three kids including Allen, who was currently 5’3 and playing soccer, running cross-country, and is also a part of the Naval Academy Cadets. Life turned out great not only for Cherish.

Becoming A Nurse

After High School, Cherish went to Rock Valley College to get a nurse assistant certification. For 7 years she worked in an Illinois hospital and in Arizona. After applying for law school she is now a law clerk until her graduation. She wanted to be a mental health attorney and it was Jeannie that made her realize this dream of hers.

An Unbreakable Bond

On the topic of Jeannie, Cherish said: “I just wanted to let her know how much of an impression she made. We will always be connected because we share this unique story.” They have frequent contact on social media but not in person. One thing Jeannie will admit is that she acknowledged the impact her empathy had on Cherish although her other colleagues would have done the same.

She Felt Humbled

Jeannie said this about herself: “It just makes me think, ‘Wow, every interaction you have with anybody is so important.’ To be able to be in this position where I’m part of someone’s story of their life — that’s such an honor.” Jeannie continues to work at Swedish American Hospital and is extremely proud of her involvement in saving Allen’s life.