A reunion between an infant and her nurses after 10 years; it would be hard to imagine the emotions. This is the story of Aidan Jane, originally called “Grace Sunday.” She was born and then placed in the hospital under the Safe Haven Law.
The Safe Haven Law allows a mother to drop off her child at a hospital, staffed fire station, or police station up until 30 days after the birth without any consequences. According to this article, 120 babies have been placed under the Safe Haven law in Illinois since it started in 2001.
Aidan’s birth mother used the provisions of this law and placed her baby in the hands of hospital staff. The hospital followed the safe haven protocol and took it a step further, the nurses had her placed in the nursery with the other babies. She was soon adopted by Lori and Lesley Millar-Nicholson and named Aidan Jane. While they now live in Massachusetts, they planned a trip back to Chicago to visit the hospital and the nurses. Aidan Jane wanted to see where she spent the first days of her life.
Most nurses or people who care for the children that are received under this law usually don’t ever see the children again once placed. Because these babies are often seen as a “miracle baby,” there is a special bonding by the nurses or caregivers. This was especially true for the nurses that cared for “Grace Sunday,” and they were very excited to see Aidan as well. A nurse who cared for her as an infant stated in this article, “As a nurse, we get thank-yous, but we rarely see how we impact a family and, to any nurse, it’s very special to hear later on how things went and to know what our impact was in taking care of Aidan Jane.”
There are many misconceptions about Safe Haven laws, but they provide opportunities to children they otherwise may not get. These are usually children that are loved by their birth mothers, but the mother is unable to physically, mentally, or financially raise them.
Aidan stated, “It’s a mixed feeling of emotions. I’m happy and excited. I wanted to see the nurses that took care of me, and I wanted to discover more about myself.”
