A disabled girl who was abandoned by her mother in a hospital in Washington, D.C., has finally been given an appropriate name and her birth certificate four months after she came into the world.
Baby Justyce and those caring for her had been waiting months for proper documentation to get the health insurance she needs for birth complications.
The four-month-old – whose mother struggled with drug addiction and mental illness before her death – needs physical therapy for paralysis in her right arm.
It had been an uphill battle for Justyce’s foster mother, Yolanda Allen-Little, who had been through a bureaucratic story while trying to get her documents.
Allen-Little had hired an attorney to help with the situation and several motions had to be filed in D.C. Superior Court to grant the request.
“I feel like a burden has been lifted,” Allen-Little told the Washington Post.
A baby girl who was abandoned by her mother at a hospital in Washington, D.C. has finally been given an appropriate name and her birth certificate four months after she came into the world
Allen-Little, who once served as a foster mother to Justyce’s birth mother Jessica, spoke to the Post to share the baby’s difficult journey.
According to the foster mom, she had kept in touch with Jessica over the years as she struggled with mental illness and drug addiction.
Just before Justyce was born, Jessica had been in a psychiatric ward and saw Allen-Little begging her to stay there to get the help she needs.
The woman said Jessica promised her she would stay, but then fled that night. Allen-Little later received a call that Jessica had given birth and left the baby behind.
She reportedly told a social worker that she wanted her own former foster mother to take Justyce home.
When Justyce was born, she had cocaine in her system. She was released into the care of Allen-Little 10 days after her birth.
The woman was in Turkey when Justyce was born and then had to care for her elderly mother for several days. At the time, she said she had no idea if the baby was being held or loved.
“It just made me feel bad knowing she was waiting in there, with no one to love her,” she told the Washington Post.
Baby Justyce and those caring for her had been waiting months for proper documentation to get the health insurance she needs for birth complications
The four-month-old – whose mother struggled with drug addiction and mental illness before her death – needs physical therapy for paralysis in her right arm
Allen-Little was never told she could take Justyce on as a foster parent rather than through an informal placement.
That would have given the woman access to government funds and an immediate birth certificate, the Washington Post shared.
The informal placement ended up causing more headaches for everyone involved.
“We were kind of in a pattern where we didn’t know what else to do,” said Marla Spindel, Allen-Little’s attorney.
Spindle is the executive director of DC KinCare Alliance, a non-profit organization that helps family members adopt children for their loved ones.
Allen-Little was referred to Spindel by a judge who recommended that she contact the agency for help with her case.
Fortunately, Spindel said others came to help with the child and her needs.
“I’ve had so many calls and emails from people wanting to help,” Spindel said.
“Some people bring diapers and formula to our office. There are people who have just called to see what happened to the baby or what they can do. People have just shown their humanity, and it’s amazing, the outpouring of love and support,” the lawyer said.
Justyce’s mother died, leaving her custody in a precarious position after she was born
“They say it takes a village and the villagers got through it,” Allen-Little said. “She’s really created a serious village.”
a GoFundMe set up for baby Justyce has raised over $30,000.
The money raised will help cover legal and hospital bills, as well as an education for Justyce when she grows up.
A community has gathered around the baby to support her in every way possible.
“They say it takes a village and the villagers got through it,” Allen-Little said. “She’s really created a serious village.”
Through it all, the foster mom said she just wanted Justyce to “know that she matters, that her life matters.”
Allen-Little said the community that has come together for this little girl, some people have donated thousands to the campaign.
“They show her she matters,” she said.