Firefighters reunite with ‘Safe Haven’ baby surrendered more than 20 years ago

(Pregnancy Help News) — Chris Florea, Jim Burge, and Jennifer Ameerally were all at the Deerfield Beach, Fla., firehouse the day in 2003 when newborn Gloria Hope’s birthmother entered and handed her baby off to Burge saying, “Please take care of my baby.”

News stories about A Safe Haven for Newborns featuring Gloria Hope and other safely surrendered infants as well as fire station training manuals covering safe haven surrender would continue to cross the fire rescue professionals’ path, reminding them of Father’s Day, 2003; the day Gloria Hope was brought to the fire station.

The fire rescue team received her at two days old as her birth mother safely surrendered her and they would wait 21 years to see how life was going for the young woman.

All three were present on October 19, 2024, to reunite with “Baby Hope” and meet her family at the annual gala for A Safe Haven for Newborns.

The Deerfield Beach Firefighters (which later merged into Broward Sherriff’s Office, BSO Fire Rescue), had called her “Baby Hope” because she was brought to the station on Father’s Day, according to a report from the local CBS affiliate. The firefighter team said whoever gets to adopt this child would be filled with hope, so, they were blessed to learn that her adopted parents named her Gloria Hope.

Three years later the Tampa Bay Times carried an article confirming Gloria Hope was named Gloria, for her adoptive mother Lori Lewis’ mom, and Hope as the name given her by the firefighters.

Florea was experiencing his first Father’s Day in 2003 with a visit to work from his wife and eight-week-old daughter when Gloria Hope’s birth mother brought her to the firehouse.

“They had just come to the station,” he recalled. “We’re all talking in the front reception area, and we got a knock on the door.”

Burge likewise remembered, “The coincidence of it being Father’s Day.”

“I had a three-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old daughter,” he told Pregnancy Help News. “My family was on their way to the station to visit me.”

“That’s where we met Gloria’s birth mother who handed us her daughter and we were kind of shocked,” he said. “But we knew what was going on.”

READ: Sisters adopted by different families search for their long-lost brother

Because the non-profit A Safe Haven for Newborns had provided training in infant surrender for EMS, firefighters, hospital staff, and other first responders, the men and women of Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue Station #66 were ready.

“We knew we couldn’t really ask any questions even though you had 50 questions on your mind to ask,” Burge said regarding the protocol of receiving an infant according to Florida law.

“We knew the process that we’d have to make notification,” Florea said, referencing the training and what authorities would be contacted for next steps.

“We had no idea it was ever going to happen to us,’ Florea said. “Are you kidding me, on Father’s Day?”

“We spent a lot of time with her,” he told Pregnancy Help News. “Our rescue truck was up for the next call, so we were in charge of the next patient.”

This little patient would stay in their hearts and minds for decades. Florea and Burge both were amazed at how the memory of that day would stay with them unlike most other rescue missions.

“We took care of her for like four to six hours,” Florea said. “It was just awesome, and, in that time, we had a connection with her.”

“It’s funny how you have hundreds of calls over your career,” Burge added as he thought about both Baby Hope and her birthmother. “There’s certain calls you just don’t forget, and that interaction stays with me today.”

“That woman, you’ve got to give her a lot of credit,” Florea said. “I’ve seen a lot of bad things, especially when it comes to newborn babies throughout my career. For that woman to show the kind of responsibility she did and do the right thing under that much stress, that’s special.”

The next few years Burge and Florea would do interviews with the media including with one Janine Stanwood from an ABC affiliate in Miami.

Burge recalled how the interview gave them the opportunity to see an update on Baby Hope through the broadcast story. Stanwood was part of the reunion at the 2024 gala.

“To put that together was super special for us,” said Burge.

Florea detailed the steps that led to the reunion which started with an “operation safe haven” training module three months earlier. The video included stories of safely surrendered infants including Gloria Hope.

Recognizing A Safe Haven for Newborns founder Nick Silverio’s name on the video, Florea emailed the nonprofit inquiring about the possibility of connecting with Gloria Hope’s family. Within days Gloria Hope’s adoptive mom Lori Lewis was on the phone with Florea and a few hours later he also got to speak with Gloria.

Silverio followed up in an email inviting the firefighters to the organization’s gala for a reunion with Gloria and her family. With instructions to not meet one another prior to the event, gala attendees got to witness the genuine reactions of all as introductions were made on stage.

Gloria recalled thinking as the moment unfolded, “This is really happening!”

Florea expressed how precious the moment was for him.

“The hug she gave us, I’ll never forget it,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for a really long time to meet her, and it was really cool.”

Burge was impressed with the gala and how Gloria played a vital role in the evening’s agenda.

“She’s a big deal for the program,” he said.

“It seems like everyone knew who she was at the gala,” said Burge. “She sings the national anthem to start it off and I’m like, wow, she’s more than a number for this program, she’s very recognizable for everyone.”

“She gave us a very heartwarming hug,” Burge added.

The firefighters brought gifts for Gloria, including challenge coins and a fire helmet with the number 66 on it representing Deerfield Station 66.

“I was not expecting the gifts,” Gloria said. “I was not expecting the helmet that they gave me. It was all pretty much one big surprise.”

“We talked a lot after the ceremony was over and we talked the next morning over breakfast,” she said. “I liked spending time with them, getting to know them.”

“It gave me a sense of closure,” Gloria said. “These are people that met my birthmother. These are the people I was handed to, so it gave me a sense of closure.”

Now a college student pursuing criminal justice and social work with a desire to work in victim advocacy, Gloria has thrived and moves forward with great purpose toward preparing for a future in which she will serve the most vulnerable. She enjoys her life while never losing sight of the grace God has shown her.

Lori Lewis commented on the interaction with the firefighters, saying, “They are family now. It was full circle; it was really cool.”

Florea told “Baby Hope” she is part of the fire rescue team’s family now, with “another 600 fathers and mothers.”

He said, “I told Gloria Hope, you’re like our family now.”

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at Pregnancy Help News and is reprinted here with permission. 

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