In 1952, nurses at a Schenectady orphanage discovered a six-month-old baby in such horrific condition that most believed he was beyond saving.

One nurse refused to give up on him.

Her love and dedication should have been enough to heal the trauma.

But sometimes, even the most well-intentioned rescue, can't rewrite a story that's already written in pain. The year was 1952 in Schenectady, New York, when staff at a local orphanage opened their doors to find someone had left them a baby.

Six months old. This wasn't unusual

for the time. What was unusual was the condition this child was in. Paul Zininger was the fourth

of five children born into the Zininger household, and like his siblings, he'd ended up in state

care. But Paul's situation was different. This baby had been through

something that left even experienced medical professionals shaken. When Paul arrived at the

orphanage, he could barely speak. His developmental delays were severe. He'd created a survival

mechanism that horrified the staff. Acustomed to long periods without food, he'd begun eating his own feces to survive.

The doctors and nurses were unanimous in their assessment.

This child needed specialized care that the average foster family could not provide.

The medical team recommended Paul remain in institutional care indefinitely.

They believed his trauma was too intensive.

His needs were too complex for traditional adoption. But one person refused to accept that recommendation.

Norma Stano was a nurse, and she saw something in this malnourished, traumatized baby that others

couldn't. Together with her husband Eugene, she spent six months fighting the system

for the right to adopt Paul and raise him as their own child. The battle was fierce. Medical

professionals argued against the placement, concerned that even Norma's nursing background

wouldn't be sufficient for Paul's extensive needs. But the Stannos persisted, and eventually

they won. Reluctantly, the orphanage staff placed Paul in Norma and Eugene's care. They changed

...