Baby
Safe Haven
I am advocating for passage of a Baby Safe Haven law in MA, one of only four states that has not passed this law. I oversaw the burial of "Baby Rebecca Mary" who was abandoned in a Boston cemetery, and died of exposure. Baby Safe Haven laws allow a desperate woman to surrender a newborn at a hospital, fire or police station with anonymity and immunity from prosecution, saving the life of the newborn.
This issue was featured in an April 16, 2003, Dear Abby column, where she said readers in states without a Baby Safe Haven law should call their legislators as they are, "Far behind the times." MA, AK, VT, and NE have not passed Baby Safe Haven laws.
States with a Baby Safe Haven laws can use assistance in the public awareness of the option of a newborn surrendered, rather then the tragedies we read of where a newborn is found dead, or near dead, in a dumpster, toilet or other unsafe place.
For more information, please
see:
members.aol.com/dtvpro/Rebecca.html
Happy
Third Birthday Baby May
It was three years ago
today
on this lovely spring day
a little girl was born
who came to be known as
Baby May.
She was born to a young
mother
who most likely was desperate
and scared.
But by leaving her to be
found
outside the hospital
meant that she obviously
cared.
Baby May became the inspiration
for the
Baby Safe Haven bill in
Mass
for any desperate young
mother
to safely surrender a baby
no questions asked.
Three years have now passed
since Baby May was found
in the St. Vincent's parking
lot.
This sweet little girl
has grown to be a
lively and rambunctious
tot.
Baby Safe haven laws have
now passed all over the
country.
With Hawaii becoming the
46th state
we can only be concerned
now
for the next baby who may
meet this fate
or will it be too little
too late?
When we hear the news
that another baby is left
abandoned or dead
will we then shake our heads
in disbelief
and ask who's to blame?
We only have to look at
our own state's failure
and we should all be ashamed.
In three years
three bills have been filed.
Ten abandoned babies
including Baby May four
found alive.
The lucky ones today with
their families happy,
they continue to thrive.
But six of these precious
lives were lost
and that is definitely
too high of a cost for anyone
especially an innocent baby
to have to pay.
We plead with you today
Governor Romney
Please, enough is enough.
And please see to it that
a Baby Safe Haven law
becomes a reality,
as a most deserving tribute
to little girl May
and see to it right away.
About
the Author:
Jean Morrisey mother of
four, has been advocating
for passage of a Massachusetts
Baby Safe Haven law since
overseeing the burial of
Baby Rebecca Mary, found
dead of exposure in the
St. Mary's Cemetery in Dorchester,
on Nov. 1, 2001.
