For some new moms who are not sure they're ready to be parents, it can be a tough decision to give up their newborn at a fire station or hospital. A new amendment to a state law gives mothers more time to decide if that's what they want to do and gives parents a new resource to get the baby to safety.For mothers, the decision to surrender their newborn baby is heartbreaking."It's a gift from God… There's no way to explain it," said Kathy Vincent, an Ocala firefighter who adopted a surrendered baby.But last year, that's what little Zoe's mother did. She brought her daughter to the fire station in Ocala.There's a Florida law that allows this, and for the women who surrender their babies, there are no charges filed and no questions asked. But the law will be expanded starting in July. Instead of seven days to decide, she will now have 30."It gives the mother an opportunity to make a really, really good, thoughtful decision," said Joel Gordon, who is on the Advisory Board for Safe Haven for Newborns.Gordon, with Safe Haven for Newborns, said their organization worked to improve the law and said 30 days is huge. "Having a baby under the best conditions is stressful. And now you put it into an environment that may not be a good situation… and that makes decision-making much more complicated. So this way, she has the time to take a deep breath…step back if you will, and say, is this really what I want to do, and is this the right thing to do," Gordon said.Also, now mothers can call 911 to surrender their baby.That is helpful because it allows the mother the option of making the surrender… if she doesn't have the means to otherwise do it. She doesn't have the ability to get to the fire station… to get to a hospital," Gordon said. "This provides one more resource to do it… and safely."This brings us back to little Zoe, who was adopted by the same Ocala firefighter to whom she had surrendered." I picked her up, I looked at her, she looked at me..she smiled, and that's when I knew I was in love," Vincent said.A chance for love, a chance for a new life.
For some new moms who are not sure they're ready to be parents, it can be a tough decision to give up their newborn at a fire station or hospital.
A new amendment to a state law gives mothers more time to decide if that's what they want to do and gives parents a new resource to get the baby to safety.
For mothers, the decision to surrender their newborn baby is heartbreaking.
"It's a gift from God… There's no way to explain it," said Kathy Vincent, an Ocala firefighter who adopted a surrendered baby.
But last year, that's what little Zoe's mother did. She brought her daughter to the fire station in Ocala.
There's a Florida law that allows this, and for the women who surrender their babies, there are no charges filed and no questions asked.
But the law will be expanded starting in July. Instead of seven days to decide, she will now have 30.
"It gives the mother an opportunity to make a really, really good, thoughtful decision," said Joel Gordon, who is on the Advisory Board for Safe Haven for Newborns.
Gordon, with Safe Haven for Newborns, said their organization worked to improve the law and said 30 days is huge.
"Having a baby under the best conditions is stressful. And now you put it into an environment that may not be a good situation… and that makes decision-making much more complicated. So this way, she has the time to take a deep breath…step back if you will, and say, is this really what I want to do, and is this the right thing to do," Gordon said.
Also, now mothers can call 911 to surrender their baby.
That is helpful because it allows the mother the option of making the surrender… if she doesn't have the means to otherwise do it. She doesn't have the ability to get to the fire station… to get to a hospital," Gordon said. "This provides one more resource to do it… and safely."
This brings us back to little Zoe, who was adopted by the same Ocala firefighter to whom she had surrendered.
" I picked her up, I looked at her, she looked at me..she smiled, and that's when I knew I was in love," Vincent said.
A chance for love, a chance for a new life.
