An-Angel-Came-Calling-To-St.-Paul's-Hospital-PDF

Kirsten Fuller and another nurse found a newborn, healthy baby boy. This cradle is called the Angel’s Cradle. It is a safe place for a baby that someone wishes to give up. There is a door that can open from the outside. Inside there is a baby’s bed with two teddy bears. Thirty seconds after the door closes,

The Angel’s Cradle at Vancouver’s an alarm rings so staff St. Paul’s Hospital is for mothers can come and care for who cannot take care of their newborns. any infant that was left there. Photograph by Arlen Redekop, The Province No one will know who left the baby. An angel came calling No one will try to find that person. to St. Paul’s Hospital

Adapted from The Province

Level 3

In May 2010, two nurses at St. Paul’s Hospital heard an alarm ring in their emergency department. The nurses had heard false alarms before. Kirsten Fuller was one of two nurses Sometimes curious people who found the Angel’s Cradle baby outside had opened at St. Paul’s Hospital in 2010. Photograph by Jennelle Schneider, The Province the small door to see what was inside. But in July 2010, someone opened that door, and put a baby boy inside the little cradle. ( . . . continued on page 2)

( . . . continued from page 1) But clearly, he was loved.” The mother left bottles, diapers and notes Angel’s Cradle program about the baby’s birth date and background. The Angel’s Cradle program If a mother changes her mind started after reports in Vancouver after using the Angel’s Cradle, of a mother abandoning a dead newborn. she can contact the ministry for support. There were other stories in the province of babies left at a bus stop, Laws about abandonment in a public washroom or in a garbage bin. Before the Angel’s Cradle program, In the last 15 years, there have been one baby a month was being seven abandoned-baby deaths handed over to St. Paul’s staff. in the Lower Mainland. In Canada, it is unlawful to abandon a child Babies were often left, also, if the child is left where it can be injured, at the hospital entrance or become sick or die. at bus stops nearby. If someone wishes to have a baby adopted, there are pages of questions to answer. Some parents just give up and take the baby home. Sometimes these children come into care a few years later. Canada has no laws that allow parents to give up a newborn anonymously. Today in France, women can give birth without leaving their names. A program like the Angel’s Cradle helps. A social worker said, “No names, no blame, and no shame.”

Foundling wheels Saving abandoned infants is not new. In the 12th-century, an infant was placed Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff, Vancouver Coastal Health’s head of obstetrics and gynecology, in a barrel or “foundling wheel” launched the Angel’s Cradle in 2010. in the side of a convent or hospital. Photograph by Jennelle Schneider, The Province When the barrel was turned,

the baby moved into the building. A safe place for a baby Then the mother could ring a bell. Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff was upset. “Baby hatches” was another name He thought that there must be a way for foundling wheels. to help women who are too anxious These hatches were used to give up a child through legal adoption. until the 19th century in Rome. Nurse Kirsten Fuller said, During this time, there were “For whatever reason, 250 baby hatches in France. they couldn’t look after this child.

( . . . continued from page 21) Vocabulary: − bassinet: a bed like a long basket for Modern baby hatches a very young baby Germany opened a baby hatch in 2000 − abandoning: removing your help because many abandoned babies were left or support completely from a person around the city and died. or a project India and Pakistan also have − anonymously: doing something modern baby hatches. secretly, without people knowing your These hatches mostly save female babies. name Families do not want − foundling: a baby left by the parents the high cost of a daughter’s marriage. for someone else to care for

− Critics of the program convent: a Christian community of Not everyone is happy people living with strict rules, usually about the Angel’s Cradle program. one of females (nuns) They say the program makes it too easy − hatches: small openings allowing to give up a baby. something to pass from one side to A St. Paul’s Hospital staff member said, another “We are simply providing a safe place − brochures: sheets of paper or small for women to give up their infants books containing pictures and instead of leaving them in places information about a product or service where they are at risk.”

Funding for the Angel’s Cradle Links: Money came from the St. Paul’s gift shop Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff talks about the Angel’s for construction of the cradle. Cradle/video: These funds also helped with http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- Angel’s Cradle information brochures. columbia/story/2010/04/29/bc-angels-cradle- The Catholic Church gave a grant vancouver-st-pauls-hospital.html for the program. The mission of St. Paul’s Hospital CBC News of the first newborn in the is compassionate care. Angel’s Cradle: This is why Dr. Cundiff felt the program http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/angels was a good match. -cradle-gets-1st-abandoned-baby/16ahsflf0