There are many documented cases like the recent one in Texas where a mother or father abandons an infant leaving the child is in eminent danger; tragic circumstances where the child’s life hangs in the balance and the parents potentially face criminal charges.
A mom who finds herself in such a dark situation as to consider abandonment has accepted a traumatic narrative of pain, shame, and impossibilities. The reality for the survivors of safe surrender stands in stark contrast to that narrative.
Nowhere in the U.S. is this necessary. All 50 states have laws that allow the safe surrender of newborns with now most states providing this protection for 30 days or more after birth.
Tweet This: All 50 states have laws allowing safe surrender of newborns with now most states providing this protection for 30 days or more after birth.
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A Safe Haven for Newborns has provided a toll-free confidential 24/7 multilingual helpline for safe surrender for over two decades in Florida. Their campaign to inform the public of the safe haven laws in the state has led to hundreds of safe surrenders and thousands of families finding help and support to choose life.
Following are three stories of safe surrender survivors who have grown up to experience the possibilities of life.
Kristopher
Aja learned about Safe Haven at church. She was drawn to the ministry and became a volunteer. It never occurred to her as a mother of four that her family would ultimately adopt a Safe Haven child. But the experience has been profound for her family.
“Kristopher saved my life,” Aja told Pregnancy Help News.
She began suffering with depression in her early 30s, the source rooted in a deep longing to have another child, yet she was physically unable to have another pregnancy.
“God’s plans are so much better than anything we can ever make,” Aja commented.
Not only did her family receive Kristopher with great joy, but he became for Aja what she called, “The blessing that keeps on giving.”
“God blessed me, my family, my children, everyone who knows us,” she said.
Kristopher always understood he was added to the family by adoption and would often share messages with Aja that he wanted shared with his birth mom.
When Aja asked what those messages would be, Kristopher stated, “I love you and I thank you for loving me enough to do the right thing.”
“He never forgets her, and I don’t think he could,” Aja said. “And I wouldn’t want him to.”
Kristopher turns 21 this year and recently started working for the TSA. He also volunteers on the production team at Christ Fellowship.
The excitement in Aja’s voice is palpable as she speaks of Kristopher’s future. Her gratitude for A Safe Haven for Newborns is immense.
“I see the love, I see the beauty,” she said.
Gloria Hope
Gloria, another safe surrender survivor, is entering senior year of college, studying for a Criminal Justice degree with a minor in Social Work.
“I want to work in victim advocacy,” Gloria told Pregnancy Help News. “I want to be able to help people who have experienced bad things.”
Gloria was three days old when Lori and Mike brought her into their home. Her birthmother called A Safe Have for Newborns prior to her birth seeking assistance.
When she safely surrendered Gloria, the child was accompanied by two letters.
One letter was for the new parents and the other to be held for her daughter until later. The message of the letter was that she loved her daughter and that is why she safely surrendered her.
“I didn’t have a future, and I wanted you to have one,” the letter stated.
Lori and Mike have been foster parents for many years. They have adopted two girls and have work to encourage families by providing a retreat for families to rest and connect in a beautiful setting.
Lori noted Gloria’s vision and focus for choosing a career in victim advocacy.
“I’m really proud of her for choosing that career,” Lori beamed.
Lori had only ever had foster care experience, and when the call came about Gloria, they were excited, but the concept of safe surrender was new.
“They laid her in my arms and said, ‘You get to name her,’” Lori recalled.
Two weeks later they were asked to come and meet Nick Silverio who founded A Safe Haven for Newborns.
“He had been in touch with Gloria’s birthmother,” Lori recalled. “She had written a book, a handwritten book of letters to Gloria and for us.”
“It was beautiful,” said Lori. “She put scripture in there, she put some songs in there. She just really poured out her heart. Gloria and I read it on her birthday.”
Gloria has thrived and moves forward in preparing to advocate for the most vulnerable, never losing sight of the gift her birth mother gave her.
Lydia
Lydia became the fifth of six children embraced by Donna and her husband.
Born with special needs and having been safely surrendered by her birth mother, Lydia has been blessed with the love of God through that safe surrender and her adoptive family, the adoption plan initiated through Safe Haven.
“She wrote me a letter recently and in it she said that she knew more than one family had wanted to adopt her and that she’s glad God gave her to us,” Donna told Pregnancy Help News.
The adoption agency called to inform Donna that a baby girl was safely surrendered at a hospital.
Being informed about Lydia’s special needs did not dissuade the couple.
Lydia’s arms end where elbows would be, her left leg ends below the knee, and she has no lower jawbone.
The couple didn’t miss a beat helping their child understand her place as a child of God.
“I knew that those congenital amputations were only challenges to overcome and were no reason to reject this baby,” Donna stated. “This baby would learn to do the things we all do in her own unique way.”
“Just like other 19-year-olds, Lydia is on a path to independence,” Dona said. “There is very little that she needs help with.”
Lydia is currently working with Vocational Rehabilitation to find a job. She has her driver’s permit, is saving for a car, and she is working with a certified driving occupational therapist toward getting her license.
Earlier in the summer Lydia volunteered at a camp for families with disabled children and was a buddy to a young girl who has Down syndrome and autism. Lydia enjoyed the experience the camp has invited her back to help again.
Lydia comes to the A Safe Haven for Newborns gala each year to share her story of how the organization helped to set her up to be welcomed into her forever home.
“She writes what she wants to say and then she asks me say it for her,” Silverio told Pregnancy Help News. “It’s just very moving. She’s a special little girl.”
The work continues
More than 6,000 individuals have found help and resources through A Safe Haven for Newborns.
From the beginning Silverio has maintained that if their efforts saved only one life it would be worth it. The organizations recently celebrated 407 lives saved and counting.
“The two most important days of your life are when you are born and when you find out why,” Silverio said.
