A safe haven newborn placed inside a fire station’s baby box changed everything for one New Mexico firefighter and his wife.
Chris Martinez, a firefighter in Belen, was at the station when an alert went off.
A baby had been safely surrendered in the station’s Safe Haven Baby Box, a secure drop-off for parents in crisis.
These boxes allow anonymous, safe surrender for infants, and this time, it would forever change his life.
Chris picked up the tiny baby with shaking hands, wrapped only in a towel. The umbilical cord was still attached.
Overcome with emotion, he called his wife.
“The first thing he said was, ‘I’m crying right now,’” Janae, 39, told TODAY.com, remembering the emotional call.
They had no idea this baby boy would soon become their son.
A firefighter rescues an abandoned baby in the cold
The baby was barely five pounds and blue from the cold.
He was quickly rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit at UNM Health System.
Doctors diagnosed him with hypothermia and pneumonia. There was no note—only the fragile life of a needy child.
Just weeks earlier, Chris and Janae had completed their foster care certification after 15 years of struggling with infertility. For years, they had longed for a child of their own.
Chris was one of the first to see the newborn.
“I knew the moment I laid eyes on him that I wanted to be his dad,” he said. “I was going to protect him.”
He and Janae were approved to visit the hospital two days later.
Janae said holding the baby for the first time felt right. She fed him a bottle, looked into his eyes, and felt an instant connection.
They visited him every single day during his month-long hospital stay. Each visit made them hope even more that this child would become theirs.
The timing of this safe haven newborn felt meant to be
Chris and Janae felt that everything had aligned for a reason.
“The timing was perfect. It was meant to be.”
They named the baby Mikel Gracen—“Gracen” to honor the grace of God that brought him into their lives.
Eventually, the couple was approved to foster Mikel. On March 10, they finalized the adoption.
It was the moment their firefighter’s family miracle became real.
Today, Mikel is 13 months old. He’s energetic, dancing around the house, pulling socks out of drawers, and asking for kisses—“besos,” as he calls them.
His parents say he’s nearly walking and loves to cuddle.
A firefighter adoption story filled with gratitude
Chris and Janae remain deeply thankful for the woman who safely surrendered Mikel. Her brave choice gave their family a new beginning.
“What she did for Mikel was so brave and selfless,” Janae said.
“We want her to know that we are going to give Mikel the best life — the life that he deserves. He’s such an amazing kid.”
This newborn adoption story is one of love, timing, and courage—not just from the adoptive parents, but from the birth mother who gave her child a chance at life.
How Safe Haven Baby Boxes offer hope
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are built into the outer walls of hospitals and fire stations.
Once a baby is placed inside, the outside door locks automatically.
Inside, trained medical staff are immediately alerted and can safely retrieve the baby quickly.
These boxes allow parents to make a safe, anonymous decision when they feel they have no other option.
It became the heart of their firefighter adoption story for Chris and Janae—and a symbol of healing after years of heartbreak.
Across the country, newborn adoption stories like Mikel’s are becoming more common thanks to this system.
Since 2016, Safe Haven Baby Boxes have helped save lives and raise awareness about the Safe Haven Law.
They’re more than just a box—they’re a lifeline for families in crisis and a second chance for children.
Sometimes, they lead to stories like this firefighter’s family miracle, where everyone, especially the child, gets the chance for a brighter future.
Watch Chris and Janae Martinez share how a safe haven newborn brought them the miracle they waited 15 years for:
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