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Newborn Left At Gaffney Hospital

Mother Uses 'Daniel's Law' To Drop Off Child Safely

GAFFNEY, S.C. -- A woman left a healthy newborn baby girl at Upstate Carolina Medical Center at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, under South Carolina's Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act, more commonly known as "Daniel's Law."

The child was examined by a local pediatrician and found to be healthy. The doctor said he believes the baby was less than 24 hours old and was probably not born at a health care facility.
The child is being held in the hospital's nursery for 36 hours, according to the requirements of the abandoned-babies law.

After that time, the child will be turned over to the South Carolina Department of Social Services for custody and foster-care placement.

Local DSS representatives were at the hospital soon after the child's arrival.

In accordance with the law, the identity of the person who brought the baby to the hospital and the names of the parents will not be released.

"This is a good law," Upstate Carolina CEO Joe Howell said. "The law was created to provide a safe avenue for parents to relinquish custody of a newborn without fear of exposure or retribution. The whole purpose is to provide what is best for the child."

When DSS takes custody of the child, the department is required to release a public notice about the circumstances of the abandonment, including a description of the child and time and date of the placement hearing.

"I have faith in the system this little girl will find a loving home and parents who will give her the life all children deserve," Howell said.

It's about time there's a story with a good ending. I don't know how people can claim they don't know about these laws.

Now the baby has a chance at a good life with people who want to adopt her instead of (probably) a young girl who's already broke up with the baby's daddy. What kind of life would that be? The mother frazzled, no money, wanting to go out, leaving the kid home alone or worse in the car while she clubs or gets her hair & nails done and the kid dies.

I'm very proud of this person.