WATCH: 14-year-old teen girl leaves her baby in a restaurant
A teen girl leaves her newborn baby at a restaurant and a patron jumps in to help.
Teenage pregnancy is a real thing in many communities around the world. The pregnancy can be the result of many different circumstances and so we cannot sit on our high horses and judge any one person. Of course, we can advocate for what the best thing to do in the circumstance is, but even then no one can say they fully understand another person's decision and motivation.
This teenager was captured on CCTV footage leaving her baby in a restaurant in New Jersey, USA. The video shows the teen enter the restaurant and plead with the owner for some help.
According to New Jersey State Law, a parent of a newborn baby can drop off the child at a hospital, police station, or firehouse as per the Safe Haven Law. The owner of the El Patron Mexican restaurant, Frankie Aguilar, saw the fear in her eyes and says that he is happy that she chose their restaurant.
He said she could've done anything, but she had the right frame of mind to ask for help and left after seeing a fellow patron attempt to check the baby.
The teenager was located by authorities and won't be facing any charges as she is protected by the Safe Haven Law.
At the moment, South Africa does not have a law of this type, but perhaps this should be an eye-opener for our country to look into something like this? The safety of babies and children can be prioritised by catering to the mental state of mind of teenagers and adults who don't feel equipped to handle their situation at the time.
Counselling and rehabilitation can ensue to assist in these kinds of situations. According to reports, the baby was taken to the local hospital and is doing well.
The quick-thinking patron who took the child helped save the baby's life and we are happy that there are still Good Samaritans in this world.
Watch footage of the teenager asking for help at the restaurant (video courtesy of YouTube):
Image Courtesy of YouTube