PALMDALE – A newborn girl was safely surrendered at a fire station in Palmdale this past weekend, authorities announced Monday.
The infant was turned over on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Los Angeles County Fire Station 136 in Palmdale, according to County Supervisor Don Knabe.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but this mother bravely made the better choice for her baby girl—No shame. No blame. No names,” Knabe stated in a press release.
As is standard practice, the newborn is now in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.
This is the second time in less than two weeks that a newborn was turned over at a Safe Surrender Site in Los Angeles County, according to Knabe. On Oct. 17, a baby girl was safely surrendered at a hospital in Tarzana, Knabe stated. Locally, a newborn girl was safely surrendered at a fire station in Lancaster on Memorial Day (May 26).
There have been 11 Safe Surrenders in Los Angeles County in 2014, and 124 since the program began nearly 13 years ago.
“Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 124 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment,” Knabe stated.
The County’s Safe Surrender Program allows a parent to confidentially hand over an infant within 72 hours of the baby’s birth – no questions asked. The law makes it easier for a parent who might otherwise abandon the baby in an unsafe place. It protects the parent from prosecution for child abandonment and allows the parent or surrendering person at least 14 days to reclaim the baby. Read more about the Safe Surrender Program at BabySafeLA.org.
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Motherof says
Kudos to the Mother who has made a very hard decision but she obviously was looking out for the best interest of her baby girl and not herself. This is a very brave thing she has done. So many people are afraid to make this choice but its definitely better then some choices that have been made by others. Safe Surrender is the only way to go!!! No Blame No Shame! You did the right thing. God bless you
SB says
Easier then taking birth control!
Unknown says
you have no idea what its like to loose a baby
Deb says
Agreed with other comments. You did the right thing in giving your baby the chance at a life that for whatever reason you felt got could not give her. There’s no shame in this and you did the right thing.
La Donna says
I just want to say to the mother who did the most courageous thing a woman/mother could do Thank you for doing the right thing for you and your daughter. God Bless.
Heather says
To the Mother: Thank you for doing the right thing. I know it had to be hard to come to this decision, but thank you for doing the right thing. You are a strong woman to do this, it may not seem like it now, but you are.
To any other mothers out there: There is no shame in doing this. It’s what is best for your baby, so do it. If you find yourself unable to care for your baby, or feel you just can’t do it, then take your baby to a safe surrender. There is no shame in this, it takes a strong woman to be able to do this.
joann says
I just want to say to that mother you made the right decisions to give your daughter a chance to live a life you may not be able to give her now and God truly works miracles. One day you will be able to give a child a good life so no regrets!!!!!