For more than a decade, Florida firefighter Vincent and his wife Katy struggled with infertility but never gave up on their dream of becoming parents. That dream began to come true in the most unexpected way \u2014 with a 2 a.m. alarm at Vincent\u2019s fire station.<\/p>\n
On January 2, 2023, Vincent was on duty in Ocala when a Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) alarm went off. Inside the box, he found a newborn girl wrapped in a pink blanket. \u201cI picked her up \u2014 she wasn\u2019t crying. That was it \u2014 I was in love with her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Safe Haven Baby Boxes, founded in 2016 by Monica Kelsey, allow parents to safely and anonymously surrender infants. Once a baby is placed inside, alarms alert staff to respond immediately. Over 300 boxes now exist in 20 states, and Safe Haven laws have reduced illegal abandonments and infant homicides nationwide.<\/p>\n
Following protocol, Vincent brought the baby \u2014 later named Zoey \u2014 to the hospital, leaving a note expressing his and Katy\u2019s wish to adopt her. Two days later, Zoey was placed in their care, and the adoption was finalized in April 2023. \u201cWhen the judge said, \u2018You\u2019re a family,\u2019 we looked at each other and said, \u2018Holy guacamole, we\u2019re a family!\u2019\u201d Katy recalled.<\/p>\n
The couple celebrated Zoey\u2019s first birthday on January 1, grateful for the miracle that changed their lives. \u201cIt\u2019s about this beautiful little girl who was given the chance of life,\u201d Vincent said. \u201cHer birth mother doesn\u2019t have to worry \u2014 her daughter is loved beyond words.\u201d<\/p>\n