Babies

Every time I read the news lately, I keep returning to the same stories over and over. I am strangely fascinated and disturbed by two news items in particular.

The first is the frightening incident in the States where Lisa Montgomery strangled Bobbie Jo Stinnett and cut out her baby. Montgomery claimed the baby as her own and proudly showed off the baby girl she called Abigail. Montgomery posed as a someone interested in purchasing one of Stinnett's puppies so she could get close to the pregnant woman. The baby, now named Victoria Jo, has been recovered and is doing fine. Bobbie Jo Stinnett was only 23 years old.

The second news item is closer to home. In BC, a newborn baby girl was found at a bus stop on November 27. She was stuffed inside a plastic bag. Currently, the BC government has placed a newspaper ad seeking the parents of little Baby Jane Doe. They are required to inform the parents that they plan to put the baby up for adoption and this appears to be the only way to notify the unknown family members. The parents have until January 13 to come forward. It has been implied by various officials that the mother would not be charged, but that they are interested in learning the medical and cultural history of the baby.

So here we have two very different women. One was so desperate for a baby she was quite literally willing to kill for it. Another woman wanted to get rid of hers so badly that she left it out where it might die. Baby Jane Doe required a ventilator when she was found. I can't understand either attitude. I feel so sorry for both babies, to grow up with such a sad history, to not be able to know their mothers. At least Victoria Jo can be comforted with the knowledge her mother loved her and I hope Baby Jane is adopted by a family who will love their new miracle.