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Hillsborough gets third case of a surrendered newborn

By Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Times Staff Writer
In print: Thursday, March 27, 2008

Mark Lunsford and Bubba the Love Sponge Clem faced off during Clem’s show Thursday.

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LUTZ — The mother walked into the Hillsborough County fire station just before noon and handed over her 4-day-old baby, saying she could not care for her. Firefighters asked if the newborn had any health issues, and she said no.

She walked out Wednesday with empty hands.

As part of the state's Safe Haven for Newborns program, no other questions were asked. Now, the infant in the tiny onesie will begin her journey toward adoption.

"She's a healthy baby who appears well fed," said Phoebe Ochman, a spokeswoman for University Community Hospital where the infant was taken for a health check. "She's a good baby."

The firefighters at station No. 34 on Van Dyke Road who took the baby, and who are fathers themselves, declined to comment. County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said they were moved by the day's events.

"For someone to come in and give them their baby, it gets very personal," Yeakley said.

The Safe Haven law went into effect in 2000 but became fully operational in Hillsborough County, with official signs and training, about 18 months ago. It allows anyone to drop off a baby 3 days old and younger at a fire station or hospital without facing criminal prosecution. Even though the baby's caretaker said this infant was 4 days old, firefighters were not going to turn her away, Yeakley said.

Nick Silverio, founder of a Safe Haven for Newborns, which monitors the program statewide, identified the woman who dropped the baby off as her mother.

He said his agency has dubbed the baby "Mercedes," which means "mercy" in Spanish. It's a similar tack it's taken in nicknaming other babies left under the program, including Hope and Miracle.

Mercedes is the third infant in Hillsborough to be left at a Safe Haven since the program went into effect, Silverio said.

She is the sixth baby statewide this year.

Paramedics examined Mercedes and took her to UCH, where she received another check.

About four hours after she was left at the fire station, representatives from an adoption agency picked her up to begin the process of finding her a new family, Ochman said.

Under the law, the baby's parents may request to reclaim their infant up until the court enters a judgment terminating his or her parental rights, which is about 30 days, said Silverio, who lauded Mercedes' mother.

"Babies are being left in Dumpsters and canals and all those hazardous places," Silverio said. "We think she was very courageous."

Times staff writer Jared Leone and researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at (813) 269-5312 or nguyen@sptimes.com.