So often these days we seem to be bombarded with bad news, with news that sickens us to the very pit of our stomach, especially when it is regarding children.
This past week was no exception as the story of a newborn baby allegedly tossed from a moving car made the national news. Thankfully, the baby was in very good condition and it turned out that the story was nothing more than an elaborate story made up by the good samaraitan/mother.
The fact that she made up such a story saddened me as in her state, as well as mine and several others, there is a safe haven law in place to protect her and her baby. All she had to do was bring the baby to a fire station or hospital and leave it with personnel there no questions asked. I celebrated when this law was enacted in my state because I have cared for two babies found in trash cans during my nursing career. Unfortunately, it seems the ones this law was put into place for are not aware of it as we still hear stories of abandoned babies, some with tragic outcomes. It’s heartbreaking for all the parties involved.
But today there is a little bit of good news. A woman came into the ER with a baby that was clearly only hours old. She stated that she wanted to leave the baby here at the hospital as she stared at the baby with haunted eyes. She was offered an exam to make sure she was okay but she declined and after one last look at the baby, walked out the door.
Baby is healthy and fine and will be placed in a home with a family that has been waiting for their special someone to complete their family.
This event was still sad in some sense but at the same time it was good. This baby’s mother, in what seemed to her a hopeless situation, did the right thing for the baby by taking him somewhere where he would be safe. She did the right thing for her too as she is free from potential prosecution had she abandoned the baby in a dangerous or unsafe manner. It was the safe haven law in action at its very best.
I said a prayer for that woman as I fed that baby in the wee hours of the morning. God bless her.