Abandoned baby still listed critical - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

denim · 06-23-2004, 09:41 AM

I found the following in the newspaper today. I just can't imagine the state of the mother, or how this child will grow up.

Quote:

Associated Press
TISBURY - A baby found abandoned on the backsteps of a martha's Vineyard church early yesterday morning remained in critical condition at a Boston hospital in the evening, a spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services said.

A woman out walking in Tisbury between 5 and 6 a.m. saw a blanket and determined that a baby was wrapped inside, Denise Monteiro said.

The woman, who at first thought the infant was dead, called 911. Police and emergency services technicians revived the hours-old baby boy, who was suffering from hypothermia and hypoxia, a shortage of oxygen.

The baby was taken to Martha's Vineyard Hospital before being flown to Children's Hospital in Boston.

"He was blue and purple; the EMS did an amazing job," Monteiro said.

Emergency responders also had to contend with the church sprinkler system turning on while they were trying to revive the baby. One of the police sat on the closest sprinkler head to keep the baby and his rescuers dry while the effort continued, DSS Commissioner Harry Spence said.

The full-term infant, dubbed Baby Vinnie, will be placed in a foster home once his is stabilized, Monteiro said.

From this story, I don't think this kid has been very lucky: abandoned by his mom, possibly brain damaged by lack of oxygen, and half-frozen, now he'll be dependant on DSS where they'll complete the job.

I really can't imagine the cause that would make someone abandon a newborn like this.

Bill O'Rights · 06-23-2004, 09:46 AM

At least, and I do mean at the very least, the mother left the baby on the steps of a church, and not in a dumpster in a back alley. Still...poor kid.

I hope he comes out O.K. with the lack of oxygen and all. Hell of a way to start out life.

maleficent · 06-23-2004, 09:52 AM

For people like this, who would abandon a child, I really hope there is a hell, because there is a special place for people who would do this.

Most every state has something in effect where if a mother really doesn't want a child, they can leave it with a police station, a hospital, where it will get immediate care.

Just abandoning a child, church or not, where you don't know how long it would take someone to realize it's there, is no different than tossing it in a dumpster.

SixEdxMia · 06-23-2004, 10:06 AM

Malificent,I feel what you are saying completely!but who says she was in a place to make ANY rational decision? I think if in fact you are going to abandon your newborn a church on Martha's vineyard is a fine place to do it,We should be happy that the child survived at all,and that it wasnt left in the obviously incapable hands of its mother.He will be included in my prayers.

maleficent · 06-23-2004, 10:28 AM

What's this child going to survive to?

I hope that this mother is found and they throw the book at her... She gets no sympathy at all.

According to the laws regarding child abandonment, There will be no legal consequences for making this choice either parent can take the baby to :
Hospital, Doctor's Office , Birthing Clinic, Police Station, Sheriff Office, Fire Department, County Health Department

As long as the baby:
is 30 days old or younger,
is handed to a person at one of the above places,
shows no signs of abuse.

All of those I'm sure exist on Martha's Vineyard.

Did she at least ring the doorbell of the church? It wouldn't seem so. She abandoned this child with no regard to the safely of the child, that's no different than tossing it in a dumpster.

denim · 06-23-2004, 10:36 AM

Here's another reference, slightly different from the first: link

There's a picture of what I assume is the church involved.

Quote:

"We all felt real bad -- not just for the baby, but for the mom, too. What was she doing to feel that desperate that she did not have anywhere to turn?" said the Rev. Michael Nagle of St. Augustine's.

"Nobody knows what the damage might have occurred from the exposure, but we are increasingly hopeful that this child may be pretty well and fine. We'll see what time brings," said Spence.

Officials are trying to determine who left the baby at the church. If you have any information on this case, you are asked to contact Tisbury Police at (508) 696-4240.

(edit) Doing the web search for the above link, I found one in Salinas California where they caught the mother: link

Quote:

Attempted Murder Charges In Abandoned Baby Case

POSTED: 10:31 pm PDT June 21, 2004
SOLEDAD, Calif. -- The teenage mother who gave birth to a baby girl and then abandoned her in a waste-filled portable toilet near Soledad could face attempted murder charges.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office submitted a criminal complaint to the district attorney's office Monday requesting the mother of Baby Doe be charged with attempted murder, child abandonment and child endangerment.

The 17-year-old mother was arrested and remains in stable condition at Natividad Medical Center. Baby Doe remains in serious condition at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford.

Shortly after the baby was born Thursday, a field foreman heard her crying and rescued the 31/2-pound girl, who was born about seven weeks early.

The infant's body temperature was 80.5 degrees Fahrenheit and her umbilical cord was still attached.

This happens too much.

Bill O'Rights · 06-23-2004, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by denim
This happens too much.

Agreed. The question is...why? I sure as hell can't pretend to have a clue.

denim · 06-23-2004, 11:04 AM

Another thing is the redundancy. The last story reported a woman giving birth to a baby girl. Last I heard, you can't give birth to an adult girl, so...

SixEdxMia · 06-23-2004, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maleficent
What's this child going to survive to?

I hope that this mother is found and they throw the book at her... She gets no sympathy at all.

According to the laws regarding child abandonment, There will be no legal consequences for making this choice either parent can take the baby to :
Hospital, Doctor's Office , Birthing Clinic, Police Station, Sheriff Office, Fire Department, County Health Department

As long as the baby:
is 30 days old or younger,
is handed to a person at one of the above places,
shows no signs of abuse.

All of those I'm sure exist on Martha's Vineyard.

Did she at least ring the doorbell of the church? It wouldn't seem so. She abandoned this child with no regard to the safely of the child, that's no different than tossing it in a dumpster.

Once again,I do agree with you,And the baby gets a second chance at living.They will find her,and she will be punished,thats not even a question.You and I know why these policies are in place,and we understand them.Not everyone does.Not everyone is as mature,or as educated,or as knowing as you.Anyone who makes the call to the leave the baby doesnt have what it takes to care for it,and though she doesnt get my sympathy,I Do understand.

raeanna74 · 06-23-2004, 03:31 PM

I have an Aunt who used to be a nurse. She quit her job to start taking in foster kids and eventually adopted 5 children. One little girl passed away at about 10 yr old from birth defects that caused her complications.

She now has a little baby who has heart problems from the mother taking drugs during pregnancy. The baby is stabilizing and his heart is growing stronger now.

She has brought so many children through her home and helped them heal from so many hurts physically and emotionally.

I hope someone like her will take in this baby. Hopefully he won't have to be passed around from one home to the next. At least he has a chance at life. It's amazing how quickly an infant can heal - even from the lack of oxygen that this baby suffered. I'm glad she at least left him where he could be found by someone who cared. If only she'd left him in a safer place yet.

denim · 07-07-2004, 11:55 AM

But wait, there's MORE (not the same one): link

Quote:

Newborn twins found dead in toilet

Wednesday, July 7, 2004 Posted: 1:44 PM EDT (1744 GMT)

EAST POINT, Georgia (AP) -- A woman who says she got up in the night to use the bathroom but instead gave birth to twins has been charged with murder after the newborns were found dead in the toilet, police said.

Alainer Warren, 25, was charged last week and jailed without bail.

"She told us initially that she did not know she was pregnant," Detective Robert Gray said.

Later, investigators learned "she saw the babies moving and alive," Gray said. "We're not talking about little embryos. These were small children."

He said the girls were born two months prematurely.

Warren told police that she got up early on June 29 to use the bathroom.

She said she gave birth instead and went to wake her boyfriend, Gregory Crawford, a 30-year-old construction worker.

Police said Crawford told them that by the time he went into the bathroom and lifted the lid to the toilet, the babies were not moving.

The boyfriend was not charged.

I'm not sure what to make of this. It sounds like these babies only lived a few minutes. What could the mother have done, really? Taken them out of the toilet, sure, but would that really have helped?

Averett · 07-07-2004, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by denim
What could the mother have done, really? Taken them out of the toilet, sure, but would that really have helped?

Yes, because they wouldn't have fucking DROWNED! Yeah, they were twin preemes, yeah, maybe they wouldn't have had much of a chance to begin with. But damn, she saw them MOVING. So stick your hand in there and fish out your CHILDREN.

I hate people.

denim · 07-07-2004, 12:28 PM

Whoops, missed that bit. I was thinking of the coldness of the water, but neglected to consider the water of the water. Ow.

Averett · 07-07-2004, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by denim
Whoops, missed that bit. I was thinking of the coldness of the water, but neglected to consider the water of the water. Ow.

Yeah, the water part is the real problem

maleficent · 07-07-2004, 12:36 PM

I really and truly do not understand human nature... What goes thru a person's head? She realized that they were children, and she realized that they were alive? So she puts the lid down and then goes to get someone?

Bill O'Rights · 07-07-2004, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Averett
Yes, because they wouldn't have fucking DROWNED! Yeah, they were twin preemes, yeah, maybe they wouldn't have had much of a chance to begin with. But damn, she saw them MOVING. So stick your hand in there and fish out your CHILDREN.

I hate people.

Word, for mother lovin' word, my thoughts and feelings. Well except, maybe, for the last three. I naively maintain a smidgeon of hope for the human race. Why...I don't know. Yeah, I do. Because I have to.

Well written, Averett. Well written.

losthellhound · 07-07-2004, 01:06 PM

I think this came up in a previous thread as well.. pretty much its the same story over and over.. Most of the time its a teenager, always claiming they never knew they were pregnant..

06-23-2004, 09:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	At least, and I do mean at the very least, the mother left the baby on the steps of a church, and not in a dumpster in a back alley. Still...poor kid. I hope he comes out O.K. with the lack of oxygen and all. Hell of a way to start out life. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

06-23-2004, 09:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	For people like this, who would abandon a child, I really hope there is a hell, because there is a special place for people who would do this. Most every state has something in effect where if a mother really doesn't want a child, they can leave it with a police station, a hospital, where it will get immediate care. Just abandoning a child, church or not, where you don't know how long it would take someone to realize it's there, is no different than tossing it in a dumpster. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-23-2004, 10:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
SixEdxMia <3 Peetster Location: Peetster's house.	Malificent,I feel what you are saying completely!but who says she was in a place to make ANY rational decision? I think if in fact you are going to abandon your newborn a church on Martha's vineyard is a fine place to do it,We should be happy that the child survived at all,and that it wasnt left in the obviously incapable hands of its mother.He will be included in my prayers. __________________ Honey,We're home.

06-23-2004, 10:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	What's this child going to survive to? I hope that this mother is found and they throw the book at her... She gets no sympathy at all. According to the laws regarding child abandonment, There will be no legal consequences for making this choice either parent can take the baby to : Hospital, Doctor's Office , Birthing Clinic, Police Station, Sheriff Office, Fire Department, County Health Department As long as the baby: is 30 days old or younger, is handed to a person at one of the above places, shows no signs of abuse. All of those I'm sure exist on Martha's Vineyard. Did she at least ring the doorbell of the church? It wouldn't seem so. She abandoned this child with no regard to the safely of the child, that's no different than tossing it in a dumpster. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-23-2004, 03:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I have an Aunt who used to be a nurse. She quit her job to start taking in foster kids and eventually adopted 5 children. One little girl passed away at about 10 yr old from birth defects that caused her complications. She now has a little baby who has heart problems from the mother taking drugs during pregnancy. The baby is stabilizing and his heart is growing stronger now. She has brought so many children through her home and helped them heal from so many hurts physically and emotionally. I hope someone like her will take in this baby. Hopefully he won't have to be passed around from one home to the next. At least he has a chance at life. It's amazing how quickly an infant can heal - even from the lack of oxygen that this baby suffered. I'm glad she at least left him where he could be found by someone who cared. If only she'd left him in a safer place yet. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

06-23-2004, 11:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	Another thing is the redundancy. The last story reported a woman giving birth to a baby girl. Last I heard, you can't give birth to an adult girl, so...

07-07-2004, 12:28 PM	#13 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	Whoops, missed that bit. I was thinking of the coldness of the water, but neglected to consider the water of the water. Ow.

07-07-2004, 12:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	I really and truly do not understand human nature... What goes thru a person's head? She realized that they were children, and she realized that they were alive? So she puts the lid down and then goes to get someone? __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

07-07-2004, 01:06 PM	#17 (permalink)
losthellhound Thats MR. Muffin Face now Location: Everywhere work sends me	I think this came up in a previous thread as well.. pretty much its the same story over and over.. Most of the time its a teenager, always claiming they never knew they were pregnant.. __________________ "Life is possible only with illusions. And so, the question for the science of mental health must become an absolutely new and revolutionary one, yet one that reflects the essence of the human condition: On what level of illusion does one live?" -- Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death