This baby Must Have A Guardian Angel

[lizbud]

What is wrong in society today that puts infants at risk from their own
parents? I pray that God continues to protect this little girl.


Baby Abandoned Twice In 1 Night
Mom, Man Abandon 5-Month-Old On Same Night

POSTED: 9:34 am EDT October 23, 2007


LaPORTE, Ind. -- A baby was abandoned twice in one night -- first by her mother, who left the child with a man who gave her a ride, and then by the man and his wife, who left the baby at a hospital, police said.

The 5-month-old girl, who was dirty and hungry but otherwise in good heath, was placed in foster care after Sunday's events, police said.

"The main thing is the baby is safe," said LaPorte Police Chief of Detectives Dennis Behenna.


Police said Michael Williams was driving home from work in LaPorte early Sunday when he was stopped by a woman he knows holding her baby. She asked the man to give her a ride to Gary, and when they arrived the woman exited the car and asked Williams to take her baby.

Williams told police he suspected the woman was on drugs and agreed to keep the child. After he arrived home, however, he and his wife wrapped the baby in a blanket, attached a note, drove to a Portage hospital and left the baby on an emergency room counter.

A hospital worker found the baby and notified child welfare officials, who placed her in foster care, police said.

The child's grandmother later reported her daughter and the child missing. The mother checked into a Gary hospital for treatment, police said, and later called police wanting her child back.

Behenna said the case will likely be presented to the LaPorte County prosecutors office to determine if charges will be filed.

[sumbirdy]

That's so sad. Hopefully they won't give the poor baby back to that horrible "mother"

[moosmom]

Some people shouldn't have 2 things...pets and CHILDREN!!!! At least the couple had enough common sense to go to the hospital.

[jackie]

Wow.

If the mother was un drugs I can sort of understand why she left her child, but the people who just left her on the counter? That is disgusting.

Poor girl.

[sirrahved]

I thought it was a law now that you can leave babies at hospitals, police stations, and fire departments so they have a "safe place" for you to go?

[lizbud]

I thought it was a law now that you can leave babies at hospitals, police stations, and fire departments so they have a "safe place" for you to go?

They do in some states. I know Indiana & Illinois have it. It's called the
Safe Haven Law. The baby has to be no more than 45 days old.

[IRescue452]

If the mother was un drugs I can sort of understand why she left her child, but the people who just left her on the counter? That is disgusting.

How is it disgusting? They left her in a safe place. The note may have explained the situation, at least enough so they baby could be tested for drugs in its system and other issues it may have. The only thing they didn't do was talk person to person with a hospital worker. Maybe they didn't really want to get involved to begin with or to jump through the hoops the hospital would have put them through, so they left the baby safely in the hospital and left. If you think about it, the hospital could have called the police and had them investigated for kidnapping charges. How's that for helping a baby get to safety?

[jackie]

How is it disgusting? They left her in a safe place. The note may have explained the situation, at least enough so they baby could be tested for drugs in its system and other issues it may have. The only thing they didn't do was talk person to person with a hospital worker. Maybe they didn't really want to get involved to begin with or to jump through the hoops the hospital would have put them through, so they left the baby safely in the hospital and left. If you think about it, the hospital could have called the police and had them investigated for kidnapping charges. How's that for helping a baby get to safety?

I could not just leave an abandoned animal at the shelter counter, let alone a five month old child. Yeah, if they had spoke to someone, they might have had to fill in some paperwork and a police report. I think it is pretty cold hearted an inexcusable, but hey, that's JMO.

[lizbud]

The reporter of the story said,in effect, the baby had been abandoned
twice in one night & really she was. I'm glad they chose a safe place but,
to leave her alone & laying on a counter, was not the most helpful way to
do things. What if someone else picked up the child and walked out? The
hospital waiting areas can be very hectic at times & it really wasn't the best
move on their part. IMO.

I did find out that this safe haven law has been enacted in 46 states
so far.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwi.../safehaven.cfm

[sumbirdy]

The reporter of the story said,in effect, the baby had been abandoned
twice in one night & really she was. I'm glad they chose a safe place but,
to leave her alone & laying on a counter, was not the most helpful way to
do things. What if someone else picked up the child and walked out? The
hospital waiting areas can be very hectic at times & it really wasn't the best
move on their part. IMO.



]

And some five-month olds wiggle. What if the baby had wiggled off of the counter?

[IRescue452]

I think the baby must have been in a carrier

[sumbirdy]

Well it just said they wrapped the baby in a blanket. Hopefully she was in a carrier (I didn't think about that )

[jackie]

I think the baby must have been in a carrier

No mention of a carrier whatsoever. The baby was wrapped in a blanket and left on a counter. The people who left the baby there, know its mother, and still chose to leave it unattended in an ER.