Life’s unexpected challenges can be incredibly daunting, especially for a 14-year-old thrust into motherhood with premature triplets, facing a path that seems overwhelming and desperately needing support.
Shariya Small was just 14 years old when she welcomed three tiny lives into the world: Serenitee, Samari, and Sarayah. Born prematurely at a fragile 26 weeks gestation, each baby weighed less than two pounds, facing an uphill battle for survival in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their journey in the NICU was a long one, stretching for more than five months as they fought to grow stronger and healthier before they could finally go home. During this critical time, Shariya spent countless hours by their side, a young figure navigating a complex medical world mostly by herself.
During those long NICU days and nights, experienced neonatal nurse Katrina Mullen noticed Shariya, a young mother visiting her babies alone, a solitary figure in a unit usually filled with family.
Initially shy and wary, Shariya found an unexpected connection when Katrina shared her own past as a teen mother who had placed her child for adoption, creating an immediate bridge of understanding.
“I am very familiar with how scary it is to be pregnant at a young age like that,” Katrina told Shariya, offering not just empathy but a lifeline. She made it clear she was there if Shariya needed anything, if she just needed someone to talk to. Shariya, feeling she was likely the only teen mom on the unit, began to open up, finding comfort and advice in Katrina. “That’s when we started really clicking, because I knew she wasn’t judging me. I started feeling like I could talk to her about anything,” Shariya recalled, describing how Katrina quickly became her primary source of support.
As the babies neared discharge after five months, Katrina offered her number, expecting simple questions, but Shariya’s frequent, tearful calls revealed her overwhelming struggles to care for the triplets alone.
Katrina quickly realized the extent of Shariya’s need. The constant calls and obvious lack of support at home began to concern her. She didn’t know the details of Shariya’s living situation initially, but it became clear that the young mother was facing immense challenges. Shariya and the babies were living with a relative in Kokomo, about an hour away from Katrina’s home in Brownsburg, Indiana. Katrina decided to visit, bringing gifts like clothes and bottles, and was troubled by what she saw.
The living situation was far from ideal for raising three infants. Shariya was sleeping on the couch, and the triplets had only one playpen and one bassinet between them. Katrina also noticed that Samari, the little boy, didn’t look well; he was very thin and covered in eczema, indicating potential health issues. “It was not a place for her to raise babies,” Katrina said, feeling “really concerned about his health.” Following Katrina’s encouragement, Shariya took Samari to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with failure to thrive, a condition linked to insufficient weight gain, and later found to have a milk allergy.
When Samari was hospitalized, Shariya asked Katrina to care for the two girls, Serenitee and Sarayah, during Katrina’s vacation, an arrangement that led to a significant intervention from Child Protective Services.
A caseworker revealed Shariya and the babies were to be placed in foster care and potentially separated, but then disclosed Shariya’s wish to live with Katrina, leading to an immediate agreement to foster them.
“I didn’t even think it through,” Katrina admitted about the life-changing decision. The thought of the teen mom and her fragile triplets being split up in the system was unbearable, especially knowing how hard it would be to find a foster home willing to take on the care of a teenager and three babies with medical needs. “Everybody in my life thought I was insane, and I probably was at that point, but I could not let her be separated from them,” she explained, driven by an unwavering resolve. She knew Shariya was “smart and she’s dedicated, and she wants to be the best mom she can be,” and she simply wanted to give her the safe space and support needed to continue being that for her children.
Becoming a foster parent required completing various courses and background checks, but Katrina was determined. Shariya, for her part, had no doubt that Katrina would step up. “I had no doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t let us go into foster care,” Shariya shared, describing Katrina as “selfless” and “caring,” someone who “would give somebody the clothes off her back.” And so, on April 9, 2021, Shariya and her three children moved into Katrina’s bustling home, arriving with just one duffle bag of belongings, embarking on a new chapter together.
The adjustment wasn’t without its challenges – blending two families, especially one with a teenager and three toddlers, requires patience and love. But Katrina’s sons soon embraced Shariya and the babies, and they began to find their rhythm as a new, expanded family unit. “I just did what I felt was the right thing to do, and I don’t regret it one bit,” Katrina reflected, acknowledging that “It has been a crazy ride, and it’s hard and it’s stressful and I’m exhausted all the time and so is she, but we make it work.” Shariya echoed the sentiment, recognizing that it was a struggle, but always choosing her children, knowing she “never expected it to be easy.”
After 688 days of fostering, their deep bond led to a permanent commitment, with Shariya’s mother agreeing to terminate parental rights, and Katrina formally adopting Shariya and becoming the triplets’ grandmother.
Shariya, now 17, doesn’t necessarily call Katrina “mom” in the traditional sense, but the relationship is just as profound. As Katrina puts it, Shariya “just became her permanent person. She doesn’t have to worry about ever being alone. She has a place to grow, and she’s done amazing since she’s been with me.” With a stable and loving environment, Shariya has thrived. She successfully earned her high school diploma from an alternative high school that even offered child care, allowing her to balance her studies and motherhood.
Looking ahead, Shariya, who has earned academic scholarships to two colleges, plans to pursue social work, aiming to use her own journey to support other young mothers and make a positive impact.
Life in the Mullen-Small household is a whirlwind of caring for teenagers and toddlers, with Katrina working weekends and Shariya navigating the joys and challenges of motherhood, their love a constant presence.
Their inspiring story has garnered significant attention, leading to an outpouring of public support, including a GoFundMe campaign created by Katrina to build a financial cushion for Shariya’s future college education and family needs. The campaign has far exceeded its goal, raising over $57,000 as of press time, a testament to the community’s desire to support this remarkable family. However, the visibility has also brought some hurtful comments for Shariya online, highlighting the judgment some people still harbor towards her circumstances. Katrina notes that Shariya’s pregnancy “wasn’t a good situation” and the babies’ father isn’t in their lives, but they have chosen to keep details about Shariya’s past private.
Shariya remains focused on building a happy life for her children, reflecting on the power of empathy and non-judgment, while their remarkable story highlights how love, support, and saying ‘yes’ can create a brighter future, proving family is built on courage and profound connection.
