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CV NEWS FEED // A firefighter and his wife recently adopted a baby who was left in the firehouse’s “safe haven” box, a place where parents can safely and legally surrender babies they are unable to care for.
Today reports Chris Martinez and his wife, Janae, had been trying to have children for 15 years and had just received their certification to become foster parents when, in February 2024, a newborn boy was left in the box.
Martinez was one of the first to care for the baby, who was later named Mikel.
Janae said the first thing her husband said when he called her about the baby was, “I’m crying right now.”
“I knew the moment I laid eyes on him that I wanted to be his dad,” Martinez told Today. “I was going to protect him.”
Mikel was shivering and blue from the cold. His umbilical cord was still attached, and he weighed just 5 pounds. He was sent to the University of New Mexico’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he was treated for pneumonia and hypothermia.
Two days later, the Martinezes were approved to visit Mikel at the hospital. They went to see him every day for his month-long stay.
“He was so fragile and I fell in love with him,” Janae said. “I gave him that first bottle and I just looked in his eyes and it was instant. I knew.”
She added that the month-long period was difficult, because she and her husband became attached to Mikel before they knew whether or not they would become his foster parents.
After his hospitalization, the Martinezes fostered Mikel. They officially adopted him on March 10, 2025.
Now, Mikel is an active 13-month-old who is learning to walk. Today writes that he loves dancing, cuddling, pulling socks out of his drawer, and asking for kisses.
Chris and Janae both said they were very thankful for Mikel’s mother.
“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.”
