Young mother surrenders newborn at Davie firehouse

A young mother took her “hours-old” baby girl to a Davie fire station Thursday morning and left her there in the arms of a firefighter — with no questions asked.

The infant’s mother took advantage of Florida’s Safe Haven Law, which allows parents to relinquish unharmed newborns, no older than a week, at a fire station or hospital emergency room without fear of prosecution for child abandonment.

“Moms in crisis should know it’s completely anonymous and in the best interests of the child to bring the babies to us,” said Battalion Chief Daniel Moran, of Davie Fire Rescue.

The infant, wrapped in a towel, arrived at fire station 38, 6905 Orange Drive, about 9 a.m. Thursday, he said. She was brought there by her young mother. Police were not called or involved.

Little Mariola was the 287th infant surrendered under the Safe Haven Law since it went into effect in 2000. She was the 13th Safe Haven baby of 2018 and only the third to be dropped off at a Davie fire station in about 15 years.

She was about six pounds and “in good condition” and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for an examination and care, Moran said.

She will be put up for adoption through an agency immediately.

Nick Silviero, founder of the nonprofit organization called A Safe Haven for Newborns, said he named the baby girl after a compassionate former volunteer.

The organization operates a 24-hour referral help line, in English, Spanish and Creole, at 877-767-2229.

“The parents did the right thing,” Silviero said. “Rather than abandoning that baby, they left it in safety with a fire department.”

Broward County has rescued 31 newborns through the program since 2001. That’s the second most for any county in Florida, behind Miami-Dade with 46. The number stands at 16 for Palm Beach County, according to Safe Haven’s website.

The main push, Moran said, is for mothers in crisis to know there are legal options. “We just want the newborn to be taken care of.”