Distraught Mom Leaves Baby At Chicago Firehouse
Updated 01/16/12 - 3:45 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A clearly distraught mother left her 6-month-old baby with the crew of a West Side firehouse Monday morning, but authorities say the incident doesn't meet the requirements of the state's "Safe Haven" law, which allows a parent to surrender a newborn at certain locations.
The mother dropped off the African-American male child at the Engine Co. 107 firehouse on the 1100 block of South California Avenue around 9 a.m. Monday after knocking on the door and making a startling announcement.
"I opened the door here and she just said, 'I'm giving my baby up,'" Lt. Ed Stutz told CBS 2's Mai Martinez. "It was kind of shocking."
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The firefighters invited the mother inside and called an ambulance for the baby, which is Fire Department protocol. The warmly dressed child appeared to be healthy and was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County for further examination.
Firefighters talked with the mother, who said she is 19 years old and that her son is 6 months old. The mother was crying and distraught and spent about 15 minutes at the firehouse before leaving.
"She just said 'I can't take it anymore,'" Stutz said.
Firefighter Ryan Rivera looked on and cradled the child in his arms.
"This kid is just adorable," Rivera said. "I looked at the face and I was picturing my kids."
Chicago police and officials from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are investigating because the state's "Safe Haven" law, which allows parents to drop off unharmed babies at police stations, firehouses, hospitals and other sites, does not apply in this case because the baby is older than 30 days.
Still, firefighters said they are grateful the mother came to them Monday instead of putting the child in danger.
RESOURCES TO HELP PARENTS IN CRISIS
Safe Families for Children offers a variety of contacts at area churches.
Maryville Academy has a 24-hour helpline at (773) 205-3637 and also sponsors a crisis nursery.
