‘An absolute blessing’: Newborn baby girl safely surrendered in Ohio baby box

Authorities are celebrating after a baby girl was safely surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Lebanon, Ohio, on Monday afternoon.

According to a media release, firefighters responded to the alarm at the baby box at Fire Station 41 at 3:24 p.m. and found an infant girl inside. The newborn was transferred to the hospital per standard protocol, and is said to be in good health.

“When I was first notified about this earlier today, I had an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for the mother who made this heartbreaking, yet heroic and courageous, decision to save this little girl’s life,” wrote Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell on Facebook. “This newborn is going to be an absolute blessing for the family who ultimately adopts her. All because her mother chose life. We have no need to know who this mother is. But I hope SHE knows how much respect we have for the decision she made today.”

READ: Arkansas dedicates $250,000 to creation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are one method used to help curb infant abandonment by allowing the parent a safe and anonymous way to surrender their infant according to each state’s Safe Haven law. In Ohio, infants 30 days old or younger may be surrendered. The Safe Haven Baby Box organization places temperature-controlled, silent-alarmed boxes at facilities like fire stations or hospitals; when an infant is placed inside, the alarm notifies first responders, who retrieve the child within minutes.

Safe Haven Baby Box founder Monica Kelsey sent a message on social media to the parent who surrendered the child.

“To the parent who utilized one of our Safe Haven Baby Boxes, thank you,” Kelsey said. “Thank you for entrusting us, thank you for entrusting the fire department to take it from here. Your baby is safe, your baby is healthy. Your baby’s at the hospital receiving care, and soon a set of parents are going to be getting a phone call that’s going to change the rest of their lives.”

According to local news station KBTX, surrendered babies are usually quickly adopted and placed with a new family within 30 to 45 days.

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