Nurse leaves shift with a ‘temporary foster baby,’ and three years later she becomes his mom

Registered nurse Mandi Fellows began her ER shift on January 19, 2020, not knowing it would end with her becoming a mother.

In a TikTok video, which has since been watched by over 150,000 people, Fellows recalls the moment she unexpectedly met her future son.

While finalizing paperwork in the pediatric section, she encountered her manager holding a “super chunky baby.”

Five years later, Mandi cherishes her son, Malachi, reflecting on the life-changing event that started that night.

“I immediately fell in love with him and kept talking about how cute he was,” she told PEOPLE.

Mandi shared that the baby was found at home with his mother, who had died from a suspected overdose.

With no family members nearby to care for him and his father unable to travel due to transportation issues, Child Protective Services intervened to help.

Fortunately, Mandi was already a licensed foster parent, having been certified 19 months earlier.

At the time, she was caring for an 18-month-old girl who had been placed with her as a newborn.

So, when a coworker suggested she take in the baby boy temporarily, she didn’t hesitate.

After all, she had an extra crib, baby supplies, and enough space to welcome another child.

Moreover, with flu and RSV season in full swing, Mandi said the idea of the infant being sent to the hospital simply because he had nowhere to go was something she couldn’t allow.

After receiving confirmation from CPS about her foster license, the registered nurse, Mandi, finished her shift, signed the necessary paperwork, and arranged for her parents to buy baby supplies.

She agreed to temporarily foster the infant for two weeks.

Previously, as a CPS investigator in Michigan, Mandi had seen the critical need for foster homes but had planned to wait until she was married with children of her own before becoming a licensed foster parent.

However, at 32, she was single and facing the heartbreaking news that a rare form of cancer and ovarian dysfunction left her unable to have biological children, changing her plans and dreams of motherhood.

Mandi found a way to make her dream of motherhood a reality—not by having a few children of her own, but by becoming a loving and supportive mother figure to many through foster care.

When Mandi decided to bring Malachi home, she experienced mixed emotions.

While the reason for his placement in foster care saddened her, she quickly grew attached to the three-month-old, describing him as “the chunkiest, happiest, most adorable baby boy.”

However, she also felt nervous about caring for him alongside her 18-month-old foster daughter.

There were moments of excitement, shock, and self-doubt as she considered the future.

“Two weeks turned into a month, then a year, then two, then four,” Mandi explains in her video. “Unfortunately, the other parent lost his parental rights.”

In October 2023, Mandi, a registered nurse, officially adopted Malachi, whom she lovingly calls “the definition of a ‘mama’s boy.'”

Now a single mom of two, Mandi acknowledges that while there are challenging days, the experience has been incredibly rewarding.

She would do it all over again if given the chance and credits her supportive family, friends, and fellow foster and adoptive parents for helping her along the way.

Despite Malachi’s difficult start, including testing positive for drugs at birth and being diagnosed with ARND (Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder) and sensory processing disorder, Mandi is proud of his progress.

She describes him as quick-witted, creative, kind, and full of energy and love.

Mandi has become a strong advocate for Malachi, actively seeking resources to support his development.

With the help of therapies and medications, he has made impressive progress. Mandi finds it incredibly rewarding to see his positive changes.

At home, Mandi discusses adoption openly and positively with her children, who know they are adopted.

They lovingly refer to their biological mothers as “belly moms” and speak about them with respect.

Mandi reassures them that while they grew in their birth mothers’ bellies, they grew in her heart and that they were always loved despite their birth mothers not being able to care for them.

Through sharing her journey, Mandi hopes to inspire more people to consider foster parenting.

“I do want to give a disclaimer: it is not for the faint of heart or for the weak,” she says. “It is a daily struggle. These kids (of all ages) come with trauma. However, it is so rewarding!” She concluded.

Here’s Registered Nurse Mandi’s viral TikTok video with Malachi, sharing the story of how they got together:

@er.mandi Yes, I know what the song is about. Yes he knows he is adopted and his “belly mom” is in heaven. This is based our true story #fyp #nurse #fostercare #adoptme #fostercareawareness #adoption #nursesoftiktok #ernurse #addictionawareness #truestory #ourstory #fypシ #viraltiktok #awareness #lovestory #boymom #singlemom #fostermom #nursemom ♬ Follow Me – DJ Party