An adorable baby girl has finally been given a name – months after her mother abandoned her at a hospital in Washington DC.
The little girl had been left at the hospital by her mother – named Jessica – with traces of cocaine in her system.
Sadly, however, the newborn was unable to receive vital healthcare because her mother died before registering the birth.
After months of waiting to receive proper documentation to obtain the health insurance she needed for birth complications, the infant was eventually given the fitting moniker: Justyce.
The four-month-old – whose mother struggled with addiction and mental health issues prior to her death – still desperately requires physical therapy for paralysis she sustained in her right arm.
Justyce’s foster mother, Yolanda Allen-Little, has been involved in a lengthy process to obtain basic documents for the baby, and has hired an attorney to help with the situation. In fact, it required several motions to be filed in the D.C. Superior Court to satisfy the request.
“I feel like a burden has been lifted,” she told The Washington Post, sharing the story of how Justyce defied the odds.
Allen-Little told the outlet that she had once been a foster mother for Justyce’s mother, Jessica, staying in contact with her over the years as she fell victim to drug addiction. She recalled how she had visited Jessica in a psychiatric ward, begging her to remain there in order to receive the mental health treatment she needed.
Jessica had promised Allen-Little that she would stay there, but left later that evening. Allen-Little then received a call that she had given birth to Justyce and abandoned the baby. It was later revealed that she told a social worker she wanted Allen-Little to take Justyce home.
Born with cocaine in her system, Justyce wasn’t released into Allen-Little’s care until 10 days later – as the foster mother had been Turkey and then had to take care of her elderly mother for several days upon her return.
She told the Washington Post that she was unsure whether Justyce had been held or loved during this time, saying: “It just made me feel bad to know she was waiting up in there, with no one to love her.”
To get the documents necessary for Justyce, Allen-Little enlisted the help of attorney Marla Spindel, who told the Post that she has been inundated with help from people who’ve heard Justyce’s story.
“I’ve gotten so many calls and emails from people who want to help,” she said. “Some people are dropping off diapers and formula at our office. There are people who have just called to see what happened with the baby or what they can do. People have really just shown their humanity, and it’s amazing, the outpouring of love and support.”
A GoFundMe has also been set up for Justyce to help her overcome her rocky start in the world. As of this writing, more than $32,000 has been raised. “Funding will go towards legal, medical fees and eventually education for Baby Justyce,” the page reads.
Despite the rocky start, Justyce is now with Allen-Little, who is caring for her and giving her all the love she deserves.