The Safe Surrender Law allows mothers to give up their babies legally, confidentially and without fear of prosecution, within 72 hours of giving birth. In 2009, 52 babies were safely surrendered in California. One of them, a little boy named Brody. This is his Adopt 8 success story.
It was a year and a half ago, when little Brody entered Rick's life and changed it for the better.
"When you're a single person, and I work full time, you get up when you want, go to bed when you want, you do this you do that, you buy yourself clothes, and all of a sudden it just shifts to a new person and you don't care. I thought, ‘I wonder if I'm going to care?' You don't care," said Rick.
The joy Brody has brought into Rick's life is almost indescribable.
"Every time he does something new you go, ‘oh my gosh, that's incredible.' The first time he said da da, I was changing his diaper one day and he said, ‘go' and I said, ‘okay, let's go!'" said Rick.
Rick says he always wanted to be a dad, but thought the odds of being approved to adopt were stacked against him.
"I thought, I'm single, I'm over 40, I don't own a home, I rent, I have a good job, but they'll never let me adopt and that's not true at all," explained Rick.
Rick went through San Diego County Adoptions, taking all the required classes, and about a year later he was matched with Brody, who was a newborn.
"The call was on a Monday morning. I was getting ready for work at about 9 o'clock, and she called and said, ‘we have this baby and you have one hour to decide,'" continued Rick. "And I said, ‘I'll take him,' so that was pretty great."
Brody was a Safe Surrender baby. His biological mother had apparently done her research and knew she could leave her son at a fire station - no questions asked - and that he'd be taken care of.
"That has to tell you right there that they love this child enough to make sure he or she is going to be okay," noted Rick.
Rick doesn't know much else about Brody's biological mother.
"I just know that she, for whatever reason, couldn't do it, so she dropped him off. She was emotional and cried, and you know it's a tough decision," Rick continued.
But what Rick can share, he's written down for his son in a special keepsake box.
"Your mom was a very special person and you know, one day, when you want to look for her, when you're old enough, I'll help you."
Rick, who's a single dad, has a wide network of support to help him care for his son.
"I have a lot of great friends and family. My very best friend who's his Godmother watches him two nights a week while I work. I have a sister who watches him and then another family friend watches him," described Rick.
And Rick isn't done expanding his family. He wants Brody to have a brother or sister.
"I just want him to have a sibling."
Rick says his life is now so much more fulfilled and encourages anyone who's even thinking about potentially adopting, to take that first step and attend an orientation.
"Your life, you think is really full, and then you find out how transitory it is when you have a kid. It just takes it to a whole new dimension," Rick added.
If you are interested in adopting from foster care, or becoming a foster family, call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U to learn more about getting started. The County of San Diego offers monthly orientation classes.
