Real Life Stories                           Testimonials

Submitted by one of our dedicated volunteers:

I had an experience today I would like to share with everyone!  Please feel free to forward this and pass it along.

One of my sons wound  up in the emergency room this morning.  He was treated and recovered in short order.  As we were waiting for discharge, a new nurse came in and announced that she was going to complete the paperwork for our discharge.

I have to admit that my first reaction was one of impatience.  Tired, stressed out, I just wanted to go home.  As she was new to us, we had to go back over the basic information, which I did somewhat grudgingly.  As she prepared to finish up, I felt that little voice inside nudging me - "Speak to her" - and truth is my response was "Lord, I don't want to".  However ..

I looked at her and asked "Are you familiar with the Safe Haven Act?".

She responded with "I am the nurse that received the Safe Haven baby that was surrendered here".  We both beamed and I said "I am the adoptive parent of this Safe Haven baby right here" and gestured to my daughter.

The nurse told me her story.  She said "I will never forget that day.  It was pouring rain, and someone had come and left brochures about Safe Haven here in the hospital.  I had read one so when the call came, I knew what to do. 

A woman called that afternoon, saying that she was coming in to give up her baby under the Safe Haven Act.  I went outside to meet her and brought the parent information pack and the medical questionnaire sheet.  We went under the shelter and I gave her the packet and asked the nursing questions.  She answered them, took the pack and handed me her baby.  I took the baby and looked at her.  She appeared to be about two hours old - still bloody from the birthing process, umbilical cord still attached.  And then I opened my arms and hugged the mother. 

All I could say to her was 'Thank you for bringing her here and not leaving her somewhere unsafe.  Thank you.'  She walked away, and I brought the baby into the hospital where the doctor examined her and certified her healthy.  We brought her up to the nursery and her adoptive family was there within a day to visit.  I left a necklace my husband had given me with her, some teddy bears and a note for her family.

A week or so passed, and her adoptive family called me at the hospital.  They wanted to know anything they could so that they could share with their daughter as she grew up.  I told them that her birthmother had made a brave decision.  We have remained in contact since then."

She showed me pictures of this healthy blue eyed little girl and her adoptive family - brother, mother and father.  So happy.  So right.  So safe.

I looked at her and said "I know the woman that brought in the brochures.  I am the one who asked her to do it.".  The nurse said "The brochures were how I knew what to do."

So dear friends - TALK ABOUT  IT.  TELL A FRIEND.  YOU JUST MIGHT SAVE A LIFE!