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Adoptive mom rejected baby after seeing her birth defects — then biological mother knew what to do

The baby was born with a condition called 'Treacher Collins,' which affects the bones and tissues of the face. As a result, her face was deformed.

BY ANGELINA DSOUZA

PUBLISHED MAR 26, 2025

(L) Doctor holding newborn after delivery. (Representative Cover Image Source: Unsplash| Photo by Frank Alarcon), (R) Woman disappointed and shocked. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Anna Tarazevich)

A mother’s heart burns with love for her kids no matter what. Many biological moms can’t provide for their babies as they hoped they would due to their circumstances. Looking at the best interests of their child, they sacrifice their dreams and love. A 36-year-old mom-to-be, Christina Fisher, knew she wouldn’t be able to support her baby, Abigail Fisher, due to her situation, per NWF Daily News. She made the painstaking decision to put up her baby for adoption after her delivery so she could have the best life. Unfortunately, when the adoptive mom saw Abigail's birth defects for the first time, she fled and never returned. Christina put on her mom shoes and took the right step.

Single mother stressed after seeing positive pregnancy test. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Nataliya Voitkevich)

The mom recalled being “ basically homeless” at the time she was pregnant. She already had an 18-year-old daughter, Debra, who was almost done with her education. Having raised her first daughter, the mom knew the struggle it was for her baby given her situation and “wasn’t ready to start again.” She didn’t want to abort the baby and decided to put the baby up for adoption. She was paired with a family who supported her throughout the pregnancy. She would send them information and updates about the baby and the mom had not been informed about any defects or problems. However, when Abigail was born, her face was malformed.

Woman looking displeased on seeing newborn. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Johnathan Borba)

This was due to a condition called “Treacher Collins” that affects the bones and tissues of the face. “I let her (adoptive mom) take the other wristband into the NICU. She came out crying, looked at Debra and left the hospital. We never heard from them again,” Christina recalled. The adoptive parents were never to return, nor were the hopes the birth mom had for her newborn. Christina’s heart broke for her daughter. She couldn’t believe that “someone could reject something so sweet.” Despite the defect, there was not a single whiff of change in the unconditional love Christina had for Abigail. She decided there and then that she would use this very love to provide for her baby girl.

Mom playing with newborn affectionately. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by RDNE Stock Project)

It was going to be a tough ride as the condition has affected her hearing and even a few basic actions like eating. Nevertheless, the mom was determined to make this work for her “angel” of a baby. Christina even hired a photographer for her baby to capture every special aspect about her, even though she wasn’t “picture-perfect.” A glimpse of little Abigail was shared by ABC7NY on Facebook. It was the perfect encapsulation of unending love. A GoFundMe was set up for the mom so she could receive monetary support. She also received support from several local non-profits.

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The mom also started working at a fast-food chain to earn and provide for her baby girl, per PEOPLE. She noted that the baby's condition was not a grave problem. It could be fixed and "she would be able to lead a perfectly normal life.” “I’ve been very fortunate. I don’t need a glamorous lifestyle. I just need enough to take care of her. She saves my life every single day, just like my 18-year-old did,” the mom remarked. While she was upset about the adoptive parents’ "shallow rejection," she was confident that it was their loss. “They missed out on the most amazing baby in the world.”