11 kids, including family of 9, abandoned
OMAHA, Neb. - Eleven children ranging in age from 1 to 17 were left at hospitals Wednesday under Nebraska's unique safe haven law, which allows caregivers to abandon youngsters as old as 19 without fear of prosecution.Nine of the children came from one family. The six boys and three girls were left by their father, who was not identified, at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room. Unrelated boys ages 11 and 15 also were surrendered Wednesday at Immanuel Medical Center.
The law, which went into effect in July, initially was intended to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded to include the word "child," which wasn't defined. Some have interpreted this to mean anyone under the age of 19.
At least 14 children have been abandoned under the state's safe haven law since it took effect.
Todd Landry, director of Health and Human Services' division of Children and Family Services, said that in nearly every case, the parents who left their children felt overwhelmed and had decided they didn't want to be parents anymore. None of the kids dropped off so far has been in danger, Landry said.
The children surrendered Wednesday are OK, said Kathie Osterman, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She didn't know why they had been abandoned. Further details weren't immediately available.
Nebraska was the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law. Under previous law, a parent who abandoned a baby could have been charged with child neglect or abandonment, both misdemeanors, or child abuse, a felony.
State Sen. Arnie Stuthman said he introduced the bill intending to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded.
Abandoning teenagers was not the original intent of the law, Stuthman said Thursday.
"People are leaving them off just because they can't control them," he said. "They're probably in no real danger, so it's an easy way out for the caretaker."
~ Courtesy of Associated Press
You're right, there are no words.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a crazy world. I am indifferent but I am happy that the children were left there then being beaten by a caregiver because they suddenly decided they didn't want to have children 9 years after the fact.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine what drove a father to do this. I am praying that the children are well and happy and can be together as a family.
ReplyDeleteThose kids must be so mixed up and scared right now. My heart aches for them.
Beyond words...you're right.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people who become parents without putting any thought into what it entails. And even more parents who don't want to deal with the challenges that will always come up. Parenting is not for sissies!
I really feel for those kids, but perhaps they will end up being in better homes. We can only hope so.
WOW! I just really don't know what else to say!
ReplyDeleteHow awful! But at the same time, I'm glad the parent chose to give up the children rather than them having to endure a worse fate.
ReplyDeleteOh.
ReplyDeleteMy.
God.
Yet another reason to be infuriated with the state of this country's healthcare system - if you don't provide affordable, accessible family planning options to those who would most benefit from them you will be forced to deal with women and families who are unable (or unwilling for whatever reason) to care for the children that they may not have had if options had been available to them.
I can't believe how sad this makes me. Without understanding the reasons behind the decisions - the article implies it was the difficulties in raising unruly children, but who really knows? - it's tough to judge, but I can only imagine how terrified and heartbroken the children are.
ReplyDeleteThat is just un-freaking-believable. How can people do this?? I mean, it's better than them being abused or abandoned but...
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a similar kind of blog. It is soo sad. It breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather see the children being cared for/taken to a safe place than read a news story stating that they have been murdered by parents who were at the end of their rope.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess the upside in my opinion was that they were left unharmed. You read too many times where the children are killed or abused....still, damn, do you think I could drop mine for a day? LOL
ReplyDeletei read this in our paper and all could think was how, how do you get to that point? I mean, I UNDERSTAND the frustration that our kids can be, but to jsut decide to walk away, knowing they will get stuck in foster care? I don't get it... I honestly think people just don't realize if you spoil a baby, you have a spolied toddler, if you spoil a toddler, you have a spolied child, if you spoil a child you have a spoiled teen... and that means a teen you cannot control! Oh, and let me define the fact that spoiled = rich here. We are far from rich and I can see how easy it is to spoil a child in so many other ways... (i.e. I whine=I get what I want, what I want always comes first, I must have what I want now. These are the ways I am thinking of spoiling.)
ReplyDeleteI was in disbelief reading this and cannot even imagine how the parent could go on living after doing something like this. However, after listening to a missionary share how they have to turn away hungry kids sometimes because they do not have food to feed everyone, it just rips your heart. What do you do when you do not see help from anywhere?
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