NICU nurse asked to be godmother of baby she cared for

A neonatal intensive care unit nurse who watched over a baby named Conrad will have a lifelong connection with the little boy she watched over for the first six months of his life.

>> Read more trending news

Carly Miller cared for Conrad after he was born with a rare condition known as lower urinary tract obstruction or LUTO. The condition affects his kidneys and bladder.

Conrad’s parents — Austyn Evans and Branden Williams — found out about the issue when Evans was pregnant. They moved from Florida to Texas when Evans was in her third trimester so they could be cared for at Texas Children’s Hospital, “Good Morning America” reported.

Conrad was born at 35 weeks after his heart rate dropped on Dec. 15, the “Today” show reported.

The prognosis was grim as many children born with LUTO don’t live past a few days.

Miller worked the overnight shift frequently in the NICU and would give Evans updates on her son’s progress, making sure to tell the worried mother good news instead of starting with the bad news.

“She never started a phone call telling me all the bad. It was always, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s so cute,’ or ‘All the nurses think he’s so cute,’ and then obviously I’d get the medical report,” Evans told “Good Morning America.” “It was such a small thing but it helped immensely.”

Conrad was put on a new machine that provided dialysis. Miller made sure she knew all the ins and outs of the device, and moved to a different pod, so she could continue to care for the baby, “Today” reported.

Conrad also recognized Miller’s voice and would know when she was the person there with him, frequently being the only patient that she worked with during her entire shift, “Good Morning America” reported.

“I would come in and say, ‘Hi’ really loud and immediately he started looking around to try to figure out where (I’m) at,” Miller told “Today.” “It really makes your heart swell.”

Miller worked with Evans to learn what to do as a first-time mother, such as teaching Evans how to swaddle her son and other day-to-day needs.

Because of how close the family got with Miller, Evans and Williams made sure that they would have a lifelong connection, naming Miller as Conrad’s godmother, six months after he was discharged from the hospital, “Today” reported.

They asked the nurse by delivering flowers and a card from Conrad that read “Will you be my godmother?” After the moment of shock subsided, Miller agreed.

Miller has continued to support the small family by showing them how to care for Conrad at home while he undergoes dialysis and uses a gastrostomy button for feeding. She will also be alongside Evans and Williams as Conrad undergoes a kidney transplant in the near future.


On Air97.1 The River - Classic Hits Logo

mobile apps

Everything you love about 971theriver.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!