Saving Viable 24-Week Preemies

Linda Conforti grew up on the frozen tundra of Labrador, Canada, the daughter of a military family. As a child, she witnessed the migration of caribou, wolves, and the nomadic Indians called Eskimos by the people in her town. On winter days when the temperature was measured at 50 degrees below zero, Linda watched the nomadic Indians pass through the military base in search of food. She remembers her mother putting out canned food and fretting when she forgot to place a can opener with her offering. 

 Linda has never forgotten the sight of the procession of families with young children, wild dogs, sleds, carrying bags full of clothing made of the pelts of harbor seals, muskrat, and bear. She was struck by the resilience of these families, how they could not only survive but thrive in such a harsh environment, migrating with the caribou and the wolves toe to toe," says Linda. 

 Linda now lives in the Southern California Mountains, a world away from the nomadic Indians traveling to survive in forsaken climates. For over twenty years, Linda has rescued our nomad culture – America's medically fragile infants, children, and youths in foster care. "These children also have to survive in harsh and brutal conditions, moved from foster home to foster home, institution to institution, never having the benefits of a stable, loving family," says Linda. 

 Her organization, Angels in Waiting, works tirelessly to place thousands of medically fragile foster children into the residences of over 500 nurses, who have provided these precious souls with loving, safe, and nurturing home environments. However, California's nomadic medically fragile foster care population is under threat from the 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' This bill, signed into law by President Trump, includes significant changes to Medicaid and other social safety net programs. While the bill aims to streamline these programs, cut costs, and promote work requirements, it also includes cuts to Medicaid and Medi-Cal, potentially impacting access to healthcare for our most vulnerable populations, including medically fragile foster care infants and children. 

 Linda and her dedicated nurses are unwavering in their commitment to our nomadic population. If necessary, they are prepared to camp out on the frozen tundra of Washington, D.C., until Dr. Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), listens to them. Linda will ensure that our Nation's nomadic population of medically fragile foster care infants, children, and youths continues to be served through the hearts, hands, and homes of America's dedicated nurses. These nurses have not only become foster parents but also health care providers for America's most at-risk and vulnerable population. Without their dedication, these infants and children would be condemned to institutional care for the rest of their lives, costing America billions in institutional and hospitalization costs. 

 Dr. Oz, together we can Save Countless Childhoods and Save Our Nation Billions in healthcare costs through the hearts and hands of America's honorable nurses. 

Your support is crucial in Linda's mission to Save Countless Childhoods through the hearts and hands of our dedicated nurses. Donate now and be a part of this life-saving cause.

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Since Linda West-Conforti established Angels in Waiting in 2005, nurses have rescued thousands of medically fragile children. 

West-Conforti, a neonatal intensive care nurse, saw how these children were being placed in foster homes without the proper care. 

Over 60 years ago, West-Conforti told the Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead, President Lyndon Johnson created a program that enabled nurses to take these medically fragile children home. However, the program lay dormant for decades. Angels in Waiting resurrected the program, giving nurses priority placement for these children. 

Not only do the nurses take the children home to care for them – 90% of those children are adopted by the nurses. “Once they call you Mommy, you’re done,” West- Conforti said. 

She showed the women a video from the show The Doctors in which she and a couple of the other nurses were interviewed. Many of these children are born to mothers addicted to drugs. During the show, West-Conforti talked about meeting Sammy – a medically fragile baby she took home to care for. “He looked at me with his blue eyes,” she said. 

West-Conforti adopted Sammy, who is now 22. She has taken more than 17 infants and children “into her heart” and adopted three. In addition to Sammy she adopted Anthony, now 19, and Autumn, now 16. 

This is not a program for every nurse, West-Conforti admits. “It is the most challenging nursing career but also the most rewarding,” she said. “These little babies need so much just to survive. They need a lot of attention.” 

Now there are more than 500 nurses in the Angels in Waiting network. 

Nancy Van Buskirk – who was instrumental in getting Angels in Waiting started
– told the women how they designed a stuffed penguin as a comfort for these children. Following the Sandy Hook school shooting, they sent penguins to every student in the school. Because the children find it difficult to talk about their fears, they can write them down and put them in the penguin’s little pouch. 

Since then, they have sent penguins to the children who have experienced similar events. 

Polly Sauer, the past president of the Women’s Club, noted they have donated in the past to help fund the cost of the penguins. 

For more information on Angels in Waiting visit angelsinwaitingusa.org. 

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