This is a truly tragic story. Authorities found a newborn abandoned on a Texas sidewalk in below-freezing weather. Now, the baby is fighting for its life. The newborn still had its umbilical cord attached and appeared to be suffering from exposure to the elements.
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A 34-year-old man discovered the baby on the sidewalk. It was located near the San Antonio Fire Department Station #1. The man made the horrifying discovery on January 21 in the early hours of the morning.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the newborn is in critical condition. It's unknown if the baby will survive.
"The newborn was inside a basket wrapped up in a towel breathing weakly with the umbilical cord still attached," officials said in the report. Authorities praised the man for quickly notifying the San Antonio Police and handing the baby over at a substation. From there, first responders transported the small bundle of joy to the hospital.
Abandoned Newborn
The mother so far hasn't been found. However, officers did identify two women as potential suspects. The abandonment comes as Texas was hit with frigid temperatures. It fell to 28 degrees with a strong wind chill. None of this was great for a newborn.
What frustrates officials even more is that Texas has Safe Haven laws for new parents. If you don't want your newborn, parents can anonymously give up their babies to designated safe areas. Said parents wouldn't have to worry about prosecution.
That being said the newborns must be under 30 days and free of injuries to avoid legal action. Many hospitals have installed medical-grade boxes for this reason in the area.
Since it was installed in 2017, hospitals have saved more than 52 babies that way.
"SAPD wants to remind anyone who feels they are unable to care for a newborn, they can bring the newborn to a designated safe place with no questions asked," police said in a statement.
It's a sad situation. I can't imagine as a parent abandoning my child. This poor baby's first hours of life were traumatic and dire.
