Editor's note: The photo attached to the story is not a picture of the baby surrendered, but an image provided by Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
SEYMOUR — A baby girl surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Seymour on Thursday morning was just hours old.
According to information from Safe Haven Baby Boxes, a healthy baby girl was safely surrendered in the baby box at the Seymour fire station. The baby was immediately transported to a local hospital for care.
"We are proud to have this resource available for the residents of Seymour, Indiana," Fire Chief Brad Lucas said in a release. "We strive everyday to ensure the safety of our residents and this is just a way to ensure the safety of newborns."
READ | Meet Grace, she's one of Indiana's Safe Haven babies
The baby box in Seymour became available last year when Hunter Wart, a high school senior, raised the money to place the box in the fire station.
The fire department was notified by the alarm as soon as the newborn's mother opened the outside door to place the baby in the box. Within 60 seconds, the newborn baby was retrieved from the box and received medical care.
"This mother loved this child and it takes a very special person to want what's best for a child and know that it's not her," Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said. "That's the ultimate act of selflessness. I'm so thankful she chose a safe place to surrender her child and not a dumpster or trash can like we see too many times."
This is the fifth baby surrendered in a baby box in the past two years in Indiana and the third to be surrendered in the past 134 days.
According to information from Safe Haven Baby Boxes, the company has helped 68 women and infants with safe surrenders, assisted with 6 adoption plans, and have referred hundreds to pregnancy crisis centers around the country. The Safe Haven Baby Boxes Crisis Line (1-866-99Baby1) is available for women to speak to a licensed counselor if they are considering surrendering their baby and also to provide ongoing counseling to women who have surrendered.
There are 21 active baby boxes in Indiana and 25 boxes in three states.
