A newborn baby was found alive Tuesday on top of a garbage can in Chicago, authorities said.
A woman and her daughter found the baby boy in an alley in the Hermosa neighborhood and took him to a firehouse, Chicago Fire Department Field Chief Patrick Fitzmaurice said at a news conference.
The baby was estimated to be a few hours old and still had his umbilical cord attached. He was unresponsive when he arrived at the firehouse, Fitzmaurice said. Paramedics shocked the baby back to life, then performed CPR as he was taken to a hospital, where he was stabilized.
The baby was then transported to a children’s hospital. Upon arrival, he was pink, alert and using a breathing tube, Fitzmaurice said.
The baby remains at the children’s hospital, where he’s in critical condition but is steadily improving.
Chicago police said they haven’t determined who abandoned the baby.
Fitzmaurice said expectant women can call 911 and not experience judgement, WGN-TV reported.
"I don't know what it's like to have a child, be pregnant and be in some horrible circumstances where you are driven to do something like this. It almost sounds diabolical," he said. "But come to us, call 911. We would've taken the baby to one hospital and her to another hospital. We won't judge. Don't leave your baby in an alley. Come to a firehouse. Leave the baby there. Give the kid a chance."
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