Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Abandoned Babies

Project Cuddle Saves Babies From Being Abandoned

Shannon — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:54:54 +0000

Project Cuddle® is an important organization dedicated to saving babies across the country from the fate of being abandoned.

It was founded 13 years ago from the living room of Debbe Magnusen with the hopes of saving the lives of babies that would otherwise be lost.

Within 12 hours of opening the 24 hour crisis-line, Project Cuddle® got its first crisis call. A frightened woman that had hidden her pregnancy from everyone she knew, was due to deliver any and had no prenatal care.Debbe had only days to orchestrate a safe and legal alternative to abandonment, Project Cuddle® was able to retain an attorney, a family wanting to rescue and adopt the baby, as well as an obstetrician, hospital and social counselor, Debbe Magnusen coached this woman through the delivery of a beautiful baby girl. After the baby was delivered into the arms of the adoptive parents, the birth mother said to Debbe. “I feel like I’ve done something good for the first time.” The woman did not break the law, the baby was safe and a rescue couple was overjoyed at having a new daughter in their lives.

Since its inception, Project Cuddle® has saved over 600 of babies across the country and into Canada from the fate of being abandoned, or worse. Aside from active work in the field, this amazing organization also seeks to raise public awareness of the problem of child abandonment.

Five years ago, actor John Stamos got involved with the charity while looking for something to devote his time and efforts to.

I really knew I could help this woman [Debbe]. She was working out of her garage saving babies. She started with an 800 number to find a place for abandoned babies, or if you’re thinking of abandoning your baby to call this number. She then would go help the pregnant teenagers or women and find parents for them.

His main role as spokesperson is to help spread the word about this organization. In his time with Project Cuddle®, the ER star says that he has had so many moving events since being involved it would be hard to pick just one.

Honestly, I’ve had so many. People come up to me and say, “I was going to abandon my baby and I saw you on ‘Ellen’”, or “We saw the Oprah piece and I didn’t [abandon]. I called Debbe.” Or parents will come up to me! I’ve had parents come up to me with this baby and say, “Thank you, because the birth mother saw you on television, heard you talking about it, called Debbe and now we have a baby because of it.”

What an awesome organization! There are too many babies that are abandoned at birth for many different reasons. I sure hope the word just keeps spreading about Project Cuddle because there are SO many parents out there that would love to adopt these babies! – Shannon Strohm, Staff Writer

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Update: Newborn found in Shoebox in Lobby of Long Island Apartment Building

Lisa — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:00:23 +0000

Last Sunday night a newborn was found abandoned in a shoe box in the lobby of a Long Island Apartment Building.

The tiny baby, who was less that a day old, still had the umbilical cord attached to the baby and tied off with dental floss.

Yesterday police arrested the newborn’s mom. She has six other children, ages 8 and younger, and admitted to being addicted to cocaine during this pregnancy.

Xiomara Gamez, 24, who worked as a prostitute to support her drug habit, was afraid to go to a safe haven because of her undocumented status, police said. She moved from El Salvador 13 years ago.

At a news conference in Mineola, Det. Lt. Raymond Cote said Xiomara gave birth to a healthy baby girl in the basement of an abandoned house in Hempstead just after 1 a.m. Saturday.

She named the baby Pearl and left her at an apartment building where she knows Hispanic families live. Coverage of the story led to a tip from a man in Queens.

This story just gets worse with every piece of information that is released. I pray that a good family adopts this baby and never tells her about her crappy beginning.

After delivery, some babies who were regularly exposed to cocaine before birth may have mild behavioral disturbances. As newborns, some are jittery and irritable. They may startle and cry at the gentlest touch or sound. These babies may be difficult to comfort and may be described as withdrawn or unresponsive. Other cocaine-exposed babies “turn off” surrounding stimuli by going into a deep sleep for most of the day. Generally, these behavioral disturbances are temporary and resolve over the first few months of life.

Ughhhh!

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Mom Mistakenly Leaves Baby On Train

Lisa — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:28:04 +0000

A Chicago mom lived her worst nightmare earlier this week when she was forced to leave her 10 month old baby on the train after her 3-year-old bolted.

The woman’s 3-year-old bolted out the open doors and she went after him, then turned around to see the doors close and the train take off north towards.

She then immediately called police who called ahead, met the train and recovered the baby, who was unhurt.

Another passenger, who was waiting at the station, said conductors held up the train until police arrived.

“They went on board and brought the baby off in a stroller. The baby was awake and alert, just looking around, nice and peaceful,” he said.

He said he initially feared the baby, which was in a stroller with “Pampers and other supplies” had been abandoned and said he was glad everything turned out OK.

The baby was handed over to the mother and she went home.

Everyone in the situation should be commended for their quick thinking.

Even though this mom made the right choice running after her toddler, no one ever wants to be put in the predicament of having to choose. Disaster was bound to happen either way.

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Baby Survives 12 Hours Alone Outside In Woods

Lisa — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:50:09 +0000

The police in Quebec deserve recognition after they rescued a one-year-old boy who spent 12 hours alone overnight in the cold, damp woods near Quebec’s Eastern Townships. They believe that he likely cried all night and had no tears left when they located him.

Const. Patrick Sullivan carried the lucky baby out of the woods about 120 kilometres east of Montreal around noon on Sunday.

Somehow he managed to survive overnight despite wearing only a T-shirt and soggy diaper in the rain. Temperatures dipped to 5 Celsius overnight.

“I was so happy to see that this child wasn’t dead, that he was alive,” Sullivan told reporters in French. “He wasn’t even crying. He tried. But I sensed that he was crying and screaming so much during the night that he couldn’t even cry anymore. That really touched me.”

Twelve hours earlier, the baby’s mother had called police saying her husband had taken their child in the family minivan.

Twenty minutes after the call, police located the minivan in a ditch near a wooded area, but did not find the father or the baby.

A 7am on Sunday, the baby’s father was picked up hitchhiking by a women who thought he needed medical attention.

When the pair stopped briefly stopped at a friend’s house on the way, police say the man pushed her out of the car and drove away.

Not long after, officers found the man at the hospital, said provincial police spokesperson Louis-Philippe Ruel.

In the meantime, a massive search was launched for the baby that included a team of officers searching on the ground, a K-9 unit and a police helicopter, which spotted the baby from the air.
When police found him, the baby seemed healthy, except for mild frostbite on his cheeks.

He was under observation at a near by hospital and then released yesterday into his mother’s care.

The unstable father was arraigned in Granby, Que., on charges of robbery and criminal negligence.

He is to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for next Monday.

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Doctors Separate Abandoned Conjoined Twins

Lisa — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:00:24 +0000

A pair of conjoined twins that were found abandoned under a bush with their date of birth written on a slip of paper, have been successfully separated.

The babies underwent a four-hour operation to be separated on March 10th. Their individual weights have risen to 4lbs 6oz and 4lbs 1oz respectively, which is considerably more than the 6lbs they weighed together when they were found.

The twins, who had merged blood vessels, liver and chest bones, are also the youngest pair of conjoined twins who had been successfully separated in the Chinese city.

Hospital staff believes that concern over heavy medical expenses caused their parents to abandon them outside the hospital just eight days after they were born.

They held a press conference on Wednesday and urged the parents of the twins to come forward.

Even though the fees to operate on the babies has now exceeded 100,000 yuan ($22,000), the hospital says that the parents will not have to pay.

Future operations will also be waived They include heart surgery for both and cleft palate surgery for one.

Because the babies were so small, the hospital paid extra for their surgeries.

Hospital officials said that the surgeons practised operating on rabbits at least three times before they dared to perform the surgery and the operation was divided into two parts.

The boys were separated at their abdomen and liver before their chest bones.

The operation was risky because the babies had no more than 240cc of blood in total, and a blood loss of 10 per cent or just 24cc, could have placed their lives in danger.

The good news is that the surgery was a resounding success and the babies are currently healthy and recovering well.

I personally hope these parents don’t come back for them. They need parents that are going to love them regardless of their condition.

I just wonder how this moms delivered conjoined twins without anyone knowing? There would be no way that two heads could pass through the birth canal simultaneously.

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Crummy Parent Alert: Father Leaves Baby Out In The Cold To Go Gambling

Lisa — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:25:55 +0000

Emergency services rescued a baby early this morning after the father left the child in a car to go gambling.

Police, fire and EMS were called after Patrons of the Silver Dollar Casino heard the baby cried, while his father gambled inside.

“A car was found with the windows covered with blankets to avoid viewing from outside,” said police.

“Fire Crews gained access to the vehicle and removed a 21-month old male child from a rear child restraint.

Sadly, the baby had vomited on his clothing, (and was) very lightly dressed with no shoes or socks.

By the time crews reached the baby shortly after midnight, investigators believe the baby had been in the car for approximately six hours in temperatures that hovered around -8 Celsius.

The father has been charged with a criminal charge of abandoning a child and the baby has been seized by Child and Family Services.

I hope there are family members that can look after this baby and give it the love it deserves.

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Baby Abandoned After Being Delivered On Airplane

Lisa — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:49:12 +0000

Airline workers got a surprise when they were cleaning an airplane this morning. More than an hour after the plane landed the crew found a newborn baby that had been abandoned.

The Pacific Blue flight travelling from Samoa to Auckland had 150 passengers onboard. It appears none of them, nor the plane’s crew, were aware the mother had given birth.

The plane arrived in Auckland at 5.20am and its passengers disembarked. It was sometime between 6.30am and 7am that police were alerted a staff member on the plane had found the baby.

The mother was found and taken, with the baby, to Middlemore Hospital where both are now reported to be well.

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Children Find Newborn in Tesco Bag Outside London Apartment

Lisa — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:22:55 +0000

A group of children found newborn girl abandoned in a Tesco bag outside a block of flats yesterday.

The infant, who was less than 24 hours old, was crying and extremely cold, despite being wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a re-useable supermarket bag.

The baby has made a good recovery and started to drink milk after being taken to hospital last night.

Police are desperate to trace her mother. They fear she could be suffering both physically and mentally.

Inspector Simon Rooke, of Lambeth Police, said:

‘I would like to stress to anyone, in particular the mother, that they should not hesitate to call us.

‘We are concerned for the welfare of the mother and want to ensure that she is receiving the appropriate medical attention. The sooner we can locate her the sooner she can get medical help.’

The baby , who has been named Grace by the nurses, may be black or Asian. Police think that she was left outside the flat between 4.30am and 8.30am yesterday.

Even though the baby was very, very cold she has made a speedy discovery because she was brought to hospital very quickly and treated.

Let’s hope that they can do the same for her mom.

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Couple That Abandoned Baby Ordered To Visit Children’s Cemetery

Lisa — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:32:18 +0000

Last week, I was shocked to read about a mom that abandoned her newborn outside a fire department inside a diaper box.

Solicitor Trey Gowdy said Thursday that the teen mother and adult father will be required to go to a children’s cemetery and a mortuary, complete counseling sessions and do community service.

The infant’s mother, whose name authorities are not releasing because she turned 17 on Sunday, must complete a series of tasks through the 7th Circuit’s Juvenile Arbitration Program.

He also said the tasks are non-negotiable and failure to complete any task will result in prosecution as a juvenile.

“I’m going to require her to visit a children’s cemetery, which if you have never been to one, is one of the saddest places you’ll ever go,” Gowdy said. “I’m going to require her to go to a mortuary because I want her to see how this could have turned out. I’m going to require her to go to a maternity ward so she can see how this should have turned out.”

The 21-year-old father of the infant, is not eligible for a diversionary program, but it will be recommended to a judge that he only receive probation as long as he completes similar tasks. His sentence will be decided by a judge.

The parents were deemed to have made an attempt to comply with the Safe Haven for Babies Act, which is also called Daniel’s Law. Authorities decided the law was not accurately followed, however, because the child was not placed in the hands of a caregiver and was left outside on a night when temperatures were in the mid-30s. The baby’s body temperature had fallen to 88 degrees, a condition that can cause medical problems.

The couple, who also have a 2-year-old and an 11-month-old, must also visit a prison, complete reproductive health counseling and parenting classes, take random drug and alcohol tests and perform community service at the Whitney Fire Department.

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Firefighter Finds Newborn Baby In A Diaper Box

Lisa — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:26:10 +0000

As I prepare to welcome #2, I am always shocked to read stories of abandoned newborns.

Friday, a South Carolina firefighter found a newborn baby boy inside a ‘Luvs’ Diaper box in front of the fire station.

The sheriff’s office said the newborn was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in good condition.

According to officials, the baby weighs about 6.5 pounds and officials believe he was about six hours old when found.

In compliance with the Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act, any infant that is 30 days old or younger who is presented to the hospital will be assessed for health and wellbeing, provided care when needed, and then physical custody will be turned over to the Department of Social Services.

The saddest part is that the ‘mom’ put this little guy in a Luvs diaper box – how ironic….

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How Does A Baby Get Stolen WITH A Vehicle?

Lisa — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:08:18 +0000

At least once every couple of weeks, I read a story about a baby that has gone missing after a vehicle has been stolen.

It is the most preventable crime EVER!

If the baby wasn’t left in the vehicle unattended, than they wouldn’t be stolen along with the vehicle…

The most recent occurrence of this was in Chicago yesterday when an Amber Alert was issued for a 7 month old Osiel Hernandez that was missing when his mother’s minivan was stolen.

His mom, Nuri Salgado, left him in the back seat of the running van, which was stolen about 4:30am. Apparently she brought him to work because she was breastfeeding, but didn’t think to bring him in…

She left the van running, in Chicago at 4:30 am!!!! Is this a joke? Why didn’t she just leave some gas money on the dash at the same time?

The baby, who appeared to be unharmed, was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

He was missing for 12 hours!!!

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PHOTOCREDIT:Phil Velasquez

Hours Old Infant Abandoned At McDonald’s

Lisa — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:23:07 +0000

Staff at a McDonald’s restaurant in southwest Charlotte got a bit of surprise when they found an hours-old infant abandoned in their bathroom on Wednesday morning.

The baby boy, who was breathing and uninjured, was believed to be only about two or three hours old when he was found.

Police also said a man was seen taking the baby into the women’s restroom before running out the door. Officers did not have a description of the man.

The baby was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for observation.

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PHOTOCREDIT:Jakalito FLICKR

UK Baby Abandoned in Stroller Outside Hospital

Lisa — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:42:39 +0000

UPDATE: The BBC is reporting that this baby’s mom has been found and is under arrested on suspicion of child neglect. Police have said that, although the 25 year-old mom is under arrest, she is being offered support and guidance by a number of agencies.

The staff at Linconshire’s Grantham Hospital were shocked to find a baby, aged between two and four months, abandoned in her stroller in front of the accident and emergency department on Saturday.

The fair-haired infant named Amy by nurses has already been placed in the care of a foster family while authorities are appealing for her parents to come forward.

Authorities believe that the little girl had been previously well cared for and said her parents had nothing to fear by speaking to them.

They have released images of the baby and the clothes she was wearing in hopes that someone who knows the family will come forward.

Police spokesman James Newell said:

‘The mother has gone through and is still going through a huge amount of emotional turmoil.

‘What we want to get across to her is that we realise that – and that there is a large amount of help and support available to her.’

‘It’s more likely that (the mother) is a local woman who gave birth at Grantham Hospital, but we cannot rule out that she has come from further afield.’

They are appealing to any one that was in the area at about 3pm on Saturday, and also to any taxi or bus drivers who may have given the baby’s mother a lift.

‘Our main priority at the moment is that we find out that the mother is safe and well and reunite her with her daughter,’ James Newell said today.

We hope this mom comes forward now that she has had some time to clear her head. Hopefully her family will come forward and offer some additional support.

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Nebraska Works To Fix Their Safe Haven Law

Lisa — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:13:46 +0000

Gov. Dave Heineman said Wednesday he will call a special legislative session to fix a safe-haven law that in just a few months has allowed parents to abandon nearly two dozen children as old as 17.

The Governor had planned to wait until the next regular legislative session convened in January, but changed his mind as the number of children dropped off at hospitals grew. Two teenagers were abandoned Tuesday night alone, and three children dropped off previously did not even live in Nebraska.

“We’ve had five in the last eight days,” Heineman said in explaining why he called a special session. “We all hoped this wouldn’t happen.”

The special session will begin Nov. 14. That’s less than two months before the regular legislative session, but the governor and others see a need to act quickly.

Most Nebraska lawmakers have agreed upon revisions that would limit the law to newborns no older than 3 days.

It is believed that the parents aren’t aware of services for older kids.

Todd Landry, director of the state’s Children and Family Services division urged parents having trouble with their children to seek help from family, friends, neighbors and churches and, if need be, social services.

Tim Jaccard, president of the National Safe Haven Alliance, said age limits in safe-haven laws vary greatly. Aside from Nebraska’s law, North Dakota’s is the broadest, allowing children up to 1 year old to be abandoned.

“It’s kind of a strange thing,” said Jaccard, a police officer in New York’s Nassau County. “If you were born in New York, you have five days. If you walk across the street (to Connecticut), you’ve got 30 days.”

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Crummy Grandpa Alert: Grandpa Leaves Baby In Car While At Bar

Lisa — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:08:32 +0000

So I guess it’s not just the parents who suck at taking care of their kids.

A grandpa in California has been arrested after allegedly leaving his 11-month-old grandchild in a car while he went into a Sacramento bar.

Robert Mora is accused of leaving the baby in a vehicle for about 30 minutes Wednesday afternoon while he went into Brownie’s Lounge, Officer Konrad Von Schoech said.

He is facing a charge of child endangerment.

A bar patron went outside and broke a car window to get the child out.

While the baby is fine, police said the temperature was 82 degrees at the time of the incident.

The child was released to her mother.

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