Charmaine Keevy and her dog Georgie were out for a morning walk when they found an abandoned baby. They worked to save her and now she is living a safe and happy life.
Charmaine and Georgie were walking near a storm drain when Georgie began barking at it. Charmaine thought she could hear a cat meowing so she got down on her knees to get a better look. She was completely shocked to see a tiny baby lying inside.
Immediately, she tried to flag down a passing car for help. Cornie Viljoen stopped to see what was wrong and he too was shocked by what he was seeing.
Together they used a steel bar to pry open the storm drain and Cornie climbed down to retrieve the baby. He shared his experience in an interview with the Daily Mail.
‘When I got into the hole it was higher than my head and it was so narrow that I had to go down on my knees and I couldn’t bend over so had to feel down for the baby below.
‘The red ants were stinging my legs but then I felt this baby’s leg and then saw the baby and I realised that this was a crime scene so I took a flash picture and handed my phone up to Charmaine.
‘I didn’t know if the baby was injured so I tried to pick her up very carefully and very slowly and she was so small. I just wanted to hold her for a while but I knew that she needed urgent medical help.
‘The baby was lucky the red ants were higher up in the drain and not down at the bottom where she was.
‘I just do not know why anyone could do this to a new born baby but I was just so glad that we were able to help her and save her life. I told Charmaine to call the emergency services right away’
Emergency services arrived and started treating the baby for hypothermia before she was rushed to the Dora Nginza Hospital for emergency treatment.
The abandoned newborn still had its umbilical attached. Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the only way the baby could have been got into the drain was by someone removing the cement cover and climbing down inside and placing her there. She has theorised that the baby was placed there by the mother and it is possible they came from outside the area.
‘I honestly believe I was meant to find that baby by God as I usually take a different route on my dog walk but for some reason went another way.
‘I cannot help but feel that there is some sort of a plan and a purpose for that little girls’ life – it is a miracle without a doubt. – Charmaine Keevy
‘We can’t just assume the mother didn’t want the baby and it must have been hard for her to leave the baby there but I am very happy to have found her and am delighted she is alive and improving.
‘There is no way that a mother who had just given birth could have lifted that heavy concrete cover on her own as it took me and a very strong man with a big steel bar to get the lintel off the drain.
‘There are clearly people out there who know who the mother and baby are and I hope they come forward’
Since the abandoned baby’s rescue, she has made a miraculous recovery and has been called Grace April. She is now living with a temporary family and thriving. Charmaine has since been to check up on baby Grace and is now sharing the updates on her Facebook page.
“I am absolutely delighted to share that I held, cuddled, kissed and even bathed our special little newborn from Lorraine when we met with her and her new safety family on Sunday afternoon. Baby Grace, as they refer to her for now, is doing fantastically well and getting prettier by the day.”
“Her temporary mom works from home, so between mom and dad, Baby Grace enjoys all the love and attention that she deserves – around the clock! It was such a super wonderful (but very tearful) experience to hold Gods beautiful little gift in my arms once again. I look forward to sharing regular updates on her health and well being, as and when I can. Thank you again to a generous public for your outpouring of love and prayers!”
Charmaine, Georgie and Cornie are heroes and have truly saved a life. Little Grace April has a very bright future ahead of her.
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