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Homeless woman asked a cop to adopt her unborn baby — when she explained why she chose him, he teared up

At first, the Whittens were unsure, thinking she might not be serious.

Homeless woman asked a cop to adopt her unborn baby — when she explained why she chose him, he teared up
(L) A pregnant woman standing outside, concerned, with hand on belly; (R) A police officer holding an infant. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) FluxFactory; (R) Connect Images)

Adoption is one of the most selfless acts of love. While many people adopt to grow their families, a police officer’s decision to help a homeless woman came straight from the heart. Here's the story of a cop who “fell in love” with someone he would later welcome into his life most unexpectedly.



 

California police officer Jesse Whitten has been a proud father of 3 baby girls, but when he came across a pregnant woman who was suffering from drug addiction, he instantly connected with her. He told ABC News, "Like a lot of people I've talked to, I heard about her life and her story." He added, "I knew her other two children from the camp I had worked at for foster youth. When she started talking about them, I had an immediate connection with her just by knowing who her wonderful children were."

A mom holding her baby for the first time. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Natalia Deriabina
A mom holding her baby for the first time. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Natalia Deriabina)

When Jesse Whitten and his wife were met with an unexpected request from the homeless woman, they knew right away that they were about to welcome a new loved one into their family. Whitten revealed that he and his wife, Ashley Whitten, were on a ride-along when they met the same woman. She immediately placed Ashley's hand on her belly. The woman, who had been offered a ride to a detox and rehab facility, made an unusual request; she asked the couple if they would consider adopting her baby. At first, the Whittens were unsure, thinking she might not be serious. However, the woman truly meant it. On February 9, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, but due to her addiction, the baby was born with heroin in her system.

Image Source: Pexels/Photo by Laura Garcia
A couple holding a newborn. ( Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Laura Garcia)

When the County asked her if she wished to arrange for emergency placement of the baby in foster care, she knew exactly whom to call: Jesse Whitten and his wife, Ashley Whitten. The woman who had witnessed the Whittens as a family, "had a vision" of her daughter growing among the other daughters of the Whittens. The homeless woman asked Officer Whitten to adopt her baby, and when asked why she chose him, she responded, "I knew you had daughters. I knew you were firm, but you were fair," Whitten said of his conversation with the woman at the hospital.

True to her words, the Whittens officially adopted the seven-month-old baby on August 30 and named her Harlow Maisy Whitten, with her middle name given by her biological mother. Baby Harlow is now a younger sister to her new siblings, Reese, 7, Kendall, 5, and Stella, 3.

Sisters affectionately holding each other while spending time together. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Alina Matveycheva)
Sisters affectionately holding each other while spending time together. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Alina Matveycheva)

The Santa Rosa Police Department congratulated the family and their new addition in a Facebook post. Ashley and her husband, Jesse, continue to serve as an example to millions, advocating for adoption and foster children. In a 2019 study authored by J. Palacios et al., the role of adoption within the child protection system was emphasized, with its core elements of permanence and stability. The study discussed the ethical and legal principles guiding adoption practices and addressed challenges arising from practices that deviate from these standards.

According to the study, the 2021 data for the United States show that fewer than one infant out of every 200 born each year was given up for adoption. In 2019, this amounted to approximately 18,000 independent adoptions. These figures highlight the importance of timely interventions, as researchers have emphasized the vitality of 'early placement' and 'stability' in contributing to a child's emotional growth, which was seen in the case of the homeless woman. By opting to give up her baby for adoption, she has given her child better odds at life.

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