Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / May 2006

TEXAS

http://www.click2houston.com/news/9175914/detail.html

Newborn Abandoned At Houston Hospital
CPS To Take Custody Of Baby

May 8, 2006

HOUSTON -- A newborn baby was found abandoned outside a northwest
Harris County hospital Sunday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

A security guard found the infant in a basket at an entrance to Cypress
Fairbanks Medical Center, located at 10655 Steepletop Drive, shortly
before 8 a.m.

Hospital workers named the boy "Baby Jackie" in honor of security
guard's father.

Baby Jackie was wrapped in a blanket without any clothing.

He was in good shape despite only being a few hours old.

"At first I thought it was trash. I got closer and thought it was
clothing. Then, when I (got up to) it, I saw it was a basket and said,
'Please don't let this be what I think it is.' I looked under it and
there was a baby's face looking at me," said James Kelley, who found
the newborn.

The hospital will keep the child for another two days. Then, Harris
County Child Protective Services will place him in foster care.

Officials would like to find the mother to make sure she is doing OK
and to get a medical history of the baby.

Authorities said she would not be prosecuted since she left the baby at
a hospital, which is allowed under the Baby Moses Law.

The law protects parents from criminal prosecution when they deliver an
unharmed child to a designated emergency infant care provider.


A newborn was found abandoned at Cypress-Fairbanks Medical Center.