By Jennifer Lucarelli, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Mike and Jean Morrisey have been through the heartache of losing a baby from a miscarriage. So when they got a chance call from the state medical examiner's about an abandoned baby, they knew they had to do something.
“We were known throughout the state for our fight against the hospital where my wife had a miscarriage,” said Mike Morrisey.
So when a baby was found dead in 2011, officials contacted the Morrisseys.
“They said we would know someone who could help keep the baby from being buried in Potter's Field,” Mike said, of the areas in cemeteries where indigent or those whose identities? are not known are buried.
“We worked to get the baby a proper burial and I realized at that point, that we never wanted this to happen again,” he said. “From that point on we worked together to get Baby Safe Haven laws passed in Massachusetts.”
Originally, the couple thought it would take about two years, but in the end, the Baby Safe Haven laws were passed in July 2004. The laws allow for babies under the age of 7 days to be dropped off at local hospitals, police stations and fire stations without any worry of being charged with baby abandonment.
“There was a lot more opposition than we expected when we worked to pass the laws,” Mike ?said. “But we persevered and now the laws are in place. Since the law has been in effect, there have been 18 safe haven surrenders and no babies have died.”
One of the goals of Baby Safe Haven New England is to help pregnant mothers before they get into a crisis.
“We have a hotline for mothers to call and we work to get them the right treatment and even help them find adoption services if that's what they's like to do,” he said.
In addition to the services they provide, the Morriseys are looking for a spokesperson for their organization.
“We found that young mothers respond to learning from their peers,” Mike said. “So we'se looking for a spokesperson that is a teen that can help spread the word about the organization.”
The Morriseys would love exposure on a national level such as through television shows like American Idol.
“A lot of contestants spread the word about organizations they support, and so many people watch those shows that it could really help us get the word out,” he said.
The couple has also worked hard to help other states pass Baby Safe Haven laws. In January, a Kansas woman gave birth in a hospital and later left the facility without her baby. The police released her picture to the media in the hopes of finding her.
Morrisey says that goes against the Baby Safe Haven laws that are in place. The women's identity should have been kept secret to protect her from being prosecuted, he said.
“We want to people to feel comfortable talking about baby abandonment, and we hope they reach out to us before they are in a crisis,” he said.
For more information about Baby Safe Haven New England, visit babysafehaven.com or call 866-814-SAFE (7233).