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ARLINGTON, Texas – Ten years after a baby was left wrapped in blankets outside an Arlington fire station on a cold day in 2002, a little boy spent his birthday with the firefighter who found him.
After being one of the first infants found under the state's Baby Moses Law, which designates fire stations as a safe haven, Koregan Quintanilla was adopted by a loving family.
He's now 10 years old, and he asked to return to the fire station celebrate his birthday with Wesley Keck, the firefighter who found and cared for him a decade ago.
"He was asleep at the time; I touched him enough to get him moving, to let me know that he was breathing. I picked him up and brought him into the station," Keck recalled.
Read the original report | More from NBCDFW.com
Koregan has dreams of being a firefighter some day.
"He wants to be a lawyer. He wants to be everything all at once because he's 10, but always first -- fireman, always first," said Koregan's mother, Rebecca Quintanilla.
On Thursday, Koregan was chief of the station. He got to ride in a firetruck, flash the lights and shoot the water gun.
Koregan said he's not special -- just another kid. But to the firefighters at Station 12, he's a little boy they won't forget.
"I was excited that I got to meet him," Koregan said. "I'm glad I get to come here and see everyone, because this is my fire station that I was abandoned at."
Koregan was adopted on National Adoption Day. The next one happens Saturday.
Across the county, 4,500 children in foster care are expected to join their forever families.
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God(dess ) bless all.
Damm ninjas cuting onions in front of me!! *sniff
Yeah it's definitely not fair, squirting onions in my eye like that
The child using the word abandoned bothers me. Here is a mother who chose to give the child up rather than having an abortion. She did so under the rules of the law, so this is not abandonment. I feel bad that he feels that way and not just adopted. I am happy he is with a loving family.
Personally the "child" who was left should be able to use whatever word he chooses to describe what happened to him. Yes the mother chose to have him vice an abortion however she chould of at least had the character to hand the child over to the firemen in person and be honest in telling them she could not keep the child. Nope, she chose to leave the child outside in the cold and that does not bother you?
Terry B., that she left her son outside the safeplace firehouse (in the cold, probably for a minute) does not bother me. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, that she did the best that she could with the circumstances of her life, and for all you know, perhaps she committed suicide within the hour.
Feel better now?
The movie, "Meet the Robinsons," had for the main theme, of a faceless mother leaving her infant son, Lewis, outside the orphanage door, and explains a possible why.
The director of the movie was also adopted.
"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396555/
Judge not Terry B, You have no idea what was going through the mother head at the time. Young and scared would be my first guess. My husband was adopted and he never felt as though he was abandoned. His parents made sure that he never felt poorly about his birth mother. Again, I feel bad that he feels as though he was abandoned and I think it is an issue his parents need to address. I don't doubt that they love their child and I am glad he has a loving home.
He just used the word "abandoned" - YOU put the negative connotation on it. He may not see it that way. He may look at his 'abondonment' as the day he was saved and brought into a great family. So for him it may have a positive connotation. Another way to think about it is the day something bad happened to you and something amazing came out of it - like you got into a car accident and met your wife or your husband out of it. In that case it was the best car wreck you ever had - it wasn't just a 'car accident'!
I agree with Mike. The word "abandon" does apply technically, as an act that occurred. He was set down, and she left. He probably views this as an event in his past, and not something he harbors today. He was raised by a loving family and is a happy kid. In his experience, his abandonment was the action that led him to his adoptive parents, the only parents he has ever known.
Right WinWin. And btw jlmyers: He was not adopted at the fire house - he was abandoned there. So that's the only word you would use in relation to that place. You wouldn't say "that's the place i went on to be adopted from..???? - you would say 'that was the place i was abandoned. There's really not another word to use your just reading to much into a word that's typically negative. The kid says it all when he says he's just a normal kid. He's not a hero, not a victim, just a normal happy kid. So there you go.
The boy says abandoned because thats what he's heard. But you could just as easily say he was "left" at a firehouse.
Abandoned, in law, means to relenquish an interest, a right, possession, or a claim, with the implication that said possession, claim, etc. will never be reasserted. The fact that it was a legal abandonment does not make it any less an abandonment.
I agree. I'm not sure I've would have told such a young child this adoption story. Maybe when he was older. My ex-husband, who was adopted, struggled with abandonment issues his whole life. It just seems that promoting the story that he was dumped off on a doorstop doesn't help.
He doesn't seem to have a problem with it, and in fact it is shaping what he wants to be when he grows up! He sounds so well adjusted and down to earth; at peace and smart and focused and comfortable with himself. What a great young man he is; I wish I could be as secure with myself!
Grammar Lesson of the Day
Terry, please stop saying "could of." The proper phrase is "could have." Most people pronounce the contraction, "could've (apostrophe representing the "ha" that is missing; but could've is clearly a contraction for "could have," not "could of."
Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Watching - you sound just like my mother. She was a stickler for grammar but couldn't spell worth a darn. I hate it when I see "thier" and then it's not used in the right context. Is grammar, punctuation, and spelling not taught in school anymore?
May his future be bright in whatever path he takes!!
I think that what TerryB is saying is that the child should own his story. It's been my job as an adoptive parent to let my kids know the circumstances that brought them to where they are now. That means hard stuff, too, when they're ready for it--and that's much earlier than most people might think. Just because Koregan uses the word "abandoned" doesn't mean he thinks of his birth mother without compassion. (BTW, I never used that word with my kids, although it applies to them--they heard it from people outside our family.)
A beautiful story! With all the negative we read about in today's news, this is a bright ray of sunshine :) God bless Koregan, Wesley, their families, and even the birth mother who left him at the fire station where he would be taken care of.
So don't let your baby die in a dumpster, or the million horrible things idiot mothers too stupid to work simple birth control do to their babies.
Take your baby to a nice warm public place like a hospital, fire hall or police station and drop them off according to the law. Better yet, put the baby up for adoption. My niece and nephew are adopted. They are loved, respected and grateful to have been saved the fate of too many unwanted infants.
Get over yourself Steve-- not all women have access to birth control or can afford them (they aren't free in this country, like in France), and not all women can use hormones, some are allergic to latex as well. And why do men rarely ever take responsibility for birth control? I guess that one slides right past your morality--- that it takes two people-a woman and a man- to make a baby.
Try educating yourself before you start judging people based on your limited experiences in the world.
I second that, Charlie. You can't judge until you know her story.
I think Steve was just trying to say that if birth control didn't work or wasn't an option or just didn't happen, that options after the fact are available.
I sincerely hope that all who choose to surrender their child do so in regards to the Moses Law. The more it gets advertised, the more likely that it is someone will use it, instead of harming a child or using careless abandonment. Most states have such measures in place, but many who could use these services don't know about them. I would much prefer to read a story like this than some of the other horrors we've recently had broadcast in the news.
May Koregan grow, as he has, into a fine young man. Thank you, all firefighters (and many others), for all you do, too. Best wishes.
Charley,
If someone cannot afford birth control, how do they pay for a child? There are many pleasures in life that people give up when they cannot afford them, sex should be one of them.
Perhaps we are in a special situation here but I know that birth control is free at our public health clinic.
No, I don't live in France. I live in the United States of America.
Charley -
No money for birth control? Don't have vaginal sex.
Exactly. If you are poor you should have absolutely no pleasure in life (extreme sarcasm here).
Don't shop, don't eat, don't have sex . . . just exist. And don't bother anyone!
Charley if everyone in the world used birth control like they really intend to...then the worlds population would be about 1/10th of what it is today. In short...there are a whole lot of whoops out there.
you realize not all women choose to have sex. some are forced.
Steve and all people with XY chromosomes - feel free to take joy in the triumph of this kid, but keep you opinions re the mother to yourselves - she was in a position that you can never ever be in you are biologically incapable of being in that position. Those of us with XX chorosomes will refrain from commenting on your folks need for ED medication, and Male Pattern baldness but you guys please stay out of our wombs.
Oh and all you folks (again seem to have XY's) who suggest that women who cant afford birth control should not have sex - well gee where does your responsibility start. It has been and seems to be always the womans responsibility to avoid pregnancy. So men how many of you when having sex make sure your partner is taking precautions?
All who were involved, loved this little boy. Even his mother, who could not keep him, loved him enough to carry him for nine months, and then let him be born, and then let him go so that someone else could carry him the rest of the way.
People think that mothers always give up their children because they don't love them; most times that couldn't be further from the truth! Mothers sometimes give up their children because they love them SO MUCH, and they would rather suffer the loss of that child all their lives, than have that (loved) child suffer hardship or cruelty or pain.
It takes a BIG HEART to love a child that much, and it takes a BIG HEART to love a child enough to make that child your very own.
Don't misunderstand what this child's mother did - we've all read the stories about other outcomes.
That didn't happen here, and we can thank this child's mother for that.
My guess is you abandoned your child
What a crazy response Joe. We've had too many stories lately on NBCnews.com about kids who are abused and/or neglected. I would rather see a woman leave a child at a fire station than put him/her in a dog cage or beat them.
Postive news story.
Would like to see one of the many DNA Ancestry companies out there offer him a "free" work-up for both sides of his birth bloodlines. Not to find his birth parents. That he knows what mixed nationalties make-up his DNA.
Why does that matter?
The only reason he might CHOOSE to have a DNA study done should have no basis in his ethnic background, but if he has concerns because he does not know his genetic MEDICAL history. ANd that is a decision he should make as an adult and no one should make for him.
United States is a land of mixed nationalities and races.
Something to take pride-in.
It is the future of the planet, unless we self-destruct before hand.
Simply put, it is nice to know how far your bloodlines are toward that mixture of nationalities and races...
Don't make more of what I wrote than it is...
I'm glad they published this story. I hope that some scared pregnant teenage girl, or woman in a desperate situation reads this and knows the positive outcome of leaving a child you cannot care for to someone who will help you out. And save your baby's life.
Yes WinWin4All.
I'm hoping the same thing, which is why I wish they had not taught this boy that he was "abandoned."
I agree they should not have told him that he was abandoned. He was "left" there as a precious gift by the birth mother with the full expectation that he would be found and adopted by a loving family. And that is exactly what happened. I know by experience no matter how loving the adopted parents are the adoptee usually always feels a sense of "abandonment". For the child sake it is important to give them a positive outlook on the situation until they are old enough to digest whatever the actual circumstance may be. In this case the mother did the right thing by leaving him in a safe place. I would have never told my adopted child that she was abandoned because she was not. I know that she was agonized over and prayed for. My daughter is a precious gift that was given to us when we needed her the most. Koregan is a precious gift given to his parents and the fire fighters.
Why do so many people decide to reply to someone else's comment instead of just telling us your feelings about the topic?
Just because!
I was going to give you a smartass answer but Laura did a fine job of that (no insult intended). I reply because of a question asked, a factual error, or it is an online CONVERSATION, and a converstaion is a bcak and forth dicussion of something.
Hollykb,
No insult taken, I was being a smartass!
This young man has a heart. Thanks to the FD and his forever family. Well done. sniff.
In any case, this story helps me put faith back in human goodness, which we don't see enough of today. Thanks!
What a beautiful story, for this young man, this fire house.... and his family.
All winners ..... now my face is leaking .....
Wonderful story and now the biological Mom who put her child first knows he is safe and happy.
Wow. Only a hand full of comments, yet a bushel of negative idiots. What an amazing display of compassion, empathy and awareness by that young boy to want to mark his birthday by visiting the people and place where it began. And what a fantastic family to find a way to make it happen.
A touching story... to say the least! God Bless...
Don't become either, boy. Fireman saves lives, Lawyers destoy lives. One is underpaid, one is way overpaid. Do something technical
What a beautiful boy, mother, and fireman! Does my heart good! Truly loved, and it shows on all of their faces. Kudos!
As the mother of another 10 year old adopted son who was left in front of a police station, I can tell you the notion of being abandoned does cross their minds, especially at this age. The thing that seems to bother my son the most is that there was no note left with him, as was the case with this child. There is no record of what his original name was, of why he wasn't kept, even of what his real birthday is. Think about that - never knowing when you were really born. It's something we all take for granted. They cannot. In my son's case there were medical issues that likely necessitated his abandonment, but in many others there is only conjecture as to why or even how old they really are.
As I have raised my son, I have done my best to cast his birth parents in a positive light as much as possible. He does not need the burden of my trashtalking them...there's a little voice in his head that does that quite well enough. Despite the circumstances of his early life and the medical challenges he has faced, he is growing up to be a wonderful, funny, generous young man of whom I am very proud. I know that somewhere out there Koregan's birth mother is probably looking at the images above with both gratitude and reassurance that he is well as well as wistful regret about what could have been. Honestly, I would spare no expense to give the same comfort to my own son's birth parents, but sadly there is no way to find them now.
ravenhairedmom,
I believe that was part of the safe haven laws. People were given the right to leave the kids at a safe spot without leaving a note or explaining their situation or giving their names. I believe these very facts have given lost of kids better lives.
And I agree. My point, however, is that it still leaves the children with a sense of abandonment that they have to process. While I would not change the law in any way, I will also stand up for the kids' rights to feel whatever they are compelled to feel about the beginning of their lives. Every adoptive parent will tell you that even when there is contact with the birth parents in an open adoption, feelings of abandonment and loss are part of the child's life at some point if not throughout. Others commenting above have urged posters to euphemize the situation by calling it something other than abandoment. If an adopted child (or adult) is reading these comments, such euphemizing ignores or minimizes the child's right to those feelings.
The last thing these kids need is to feel guilty about feeling abandoned. While I salute those who do take their unwanted offspring to safe harbor facilities instead of aborting them or leaving them in a dangerous situation, I refuse to wrap my words in padding for their sake at the expense of the abandoned child. As adults they are infinitely more capable of processing the emotional baggage associated with their choices than a child faced with even more baggage that was not of their own creation.
This is one of the hardest challenges adoptive parents face - helping our kids process those feelings of grief and loss without feeling guilty about sharing them with us. Koregan's adoptive parents are to be lauded because it is clearly obvious they are doing an excellent job of supporting him as he works through his thoughts and feelings about his early life in a very healthy way.
Be strong child and never feel like you were abandoned! I assure you, you were and are embraced by millions including myself! I can’t imagine what the circumstances were for your “biotical mother” to do this but you will don’t let it bother you. You will become stronger from this and I anticipate you will not only be a future leader but you will be an excellent parent someday as well!
Keep your chin up young man and stay strong –I am certain you are going to be just fine!! : - )
I congratulate the birth mother for making such a painful, yet smart decision 10 years ago, by leaving her warmly wrapped newborn at a firestation where he could survive and be adopted.
So sweet and such a sensible boy :)
He's probably just grateful he wasn't left on the doorstep of a Catholic church!
Happy Birthday Koregan!!
Oh my goodness! A 10 year old boy used the word "abandoned", perhaps when this boy is older he will choose another word to describe the circumstances of his adoption. If he feels he was abandoned, he has a right to that feeling or thought. While I commend the mother for not leaving him in a dumpster or abusing him, she did abandon him and she has to live with that for the rest of her life. This little boy is probably in a better home than the biological mother could have provided, but he too has to live with knowing that the woman who gave birth to him did not keep him. Giving people the opportunity to leave newborns at "safe" places, without fear of having to provide an explanation has probably saved a number of babies from being killed or dying in a dumpster.
If the boy says he feels abondoned-please don't discount his feelings by wishing he would use another word. If he chose the word abandoned, that is how he was feeling.
Anybody other than me wondering if his parents have read this article or seen the video and might want to come out of the woodwork and admit to being his parents?