Two-day old baby girl found just in time
"The Baby Box alarm on my phone went off at 16:25, and when I opened the app to check the camera inside the box, I saw this beautiful, little girl."
On Monday evening, February 6, a two-day-old baby girl was surrendered to Just In Time Baby Sanctuary via their Baby Saver Box.
“The Baby Box alarm on my phone went off at 16:25, and when I opened the app to check the camera inside the box, I saw this beautiful, little girl,” Just In Time founder Georgina Caetano explained that when the alarm goes off, Help24’s Control Room is also notified. “We took her out of the box at 16:27, and we took two minutes because we saw people outside our gate. I was afraid it was the mother and wanted to give her time in case she changed her mind.”
Georgina explained why she gave the mother two minutes: “I simply believe that a mother who chooses to surrender her baby is desperate and very afraid.”
Help24 arrived and performed a health check on the infant.
“They noticed she was a little dehydrated, so we fed her every two hours to keep her hydrated,” she explained.
The baby’s clinic card was left in the box with her by the mother, ‘we know she’s two days old because of this’.
Looking at the tiny body wrapped in pink, Georgina smiled and stated that this little girl has an old soul and they have given her the nickname Nakai, which is a Shona word for beautiful.
Georgina and the Just In Time team will now assist Roodepoort Police and Roodepoort Child Welfare in their statutory duties.
“The work entails conducting the investigation, obtaining a court date, and placing the child in temporary safe care, either with me or with another temporary safe care provider. They will investigate by going to the hospital and attempting to locate the mother. Nine times out of ten, the mother gave birth in a hospital while concealing her true identity. Another 15 times, mothers request assistance from the hospital but do not receive it,” she explained.
Georgina addressed the community, saying, “We would be grateful if you could help us with the following items: NAN 1, Huggies 0, 1, 4+ and 5, wet wipes, fresh fruit and vegetables, Avent classic bottles, Avent teats 1, 2 and 3, and general groceries. Contributions in cash are also welcome. We comply with BEE level 1 and can issue Sect 18A certificates. Donations can be made to the Just In Time Baby Sanctuary FNB Cheque Account No. 62687882649. Please send proof of payment and a request for our tax certificate to info@justintime.org.za.”
READ MORE: Second chance for abandoned babies
Just In Time Baby Sanctuary, located at 70 Kliprand Street in Discovery, is a non-profit organisation that provides a loving, caring home for children in need of foster care or temporary safety.
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