Baby Doe's Mother Returns To Hospital
Mother Does Not Want Custody
Originally published by The Kansas City Channel, January 9, 2002
OTTAWA, Kan. — The mother of the baby abandoned at an Ottawa hospital was found, but she said she does not want custody of the baby, KMBC 9 News' Peggy Breit reported.
The infant girl is now in the state's care. The child is known as Abby Dawn Doe (pictured, left): Abby, because she was abandoned, and Dawn, for the time of day on Monday that hospital staff found her.
The child was still in the hospital Wednesday, but that could change Thursday.
Abby weighed less than 5 pounds.
Hospital staff found her wrapped in a blanket in a corner of the emergency room entrance.
On Tuesday night, the child's mother came to Ransom Memorial Hospital, where the baby was left, seeking treatment.
She told police that she had abandoned the girl because of numerous personal and financial problems.
Some local residents said they were angry at the mother, but others said they were happy the mother brought the child to the hospital.
"People make those choices like that, but at least she was fortunate enough to turn around and have a place to take her so she could be taken care of right," resident Clarence Brockert said.
"She's not ready, capable. I'd rather see it go to a good home than in the trash Dumpster in the back yard somewhere," resident Theresa Finch said.
People at the hospital praised the mother's choice. They said they are grateful that a new state law makes leaving a child at a hospital legal.
"In a new mother's mind, if this is the best thing they can do for their child and not be prosecuted for it, then we're happy that we are available for that to happen," said Ransom Memorial's Kelly McDermeit. "I don't think there's any shortage of loving parents that will be interested in taking care of her."
Hospital staff said they received clothes and offers of adoption for the baby. State representatives said they will place the child in a foster home, possibly by tomorrow.
The first custody hearing will be in two months.
The law technically requires the birth mother to make contact with someone in the hospital, but the mother of Abby did not. Ottawa police said they do not expect to file charges in the case, Breit reported.
