Baby girl is given a name 4 months after being dumped at DC hospital

Adorable disabled baby girl is FINALLY given name and birth certificate four months after being dumped in DC hospital by mentally-ill mom who died shortly afterwards

• Baby Justyce was born four months ago and had not gotten a name until June 9
• She was left at the hospital by her mother, who was mentally ill 
• The baby has paralysis in her right arm from birth complications 

A disabled baby girl who was abandoned by her mother at a Washington, D.C. hospital has finally received a fitting 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 the proper documentation to obtain health insurance she needs for birth complications. 

The four-month-old – whose mom had 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 mom, Yolanda Allen-Little, who had been through a bureaucratic saga just trying to obtain her documents. 

Allen-Little had hired an attorney to help with the situation and it required several motions being filed in the D.C. Superior Court to fulfill 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 Washington, D.C. hospital has finally received a fitting name and her birth certificate four months after she came into the world

Allen-Little, who once served as a foster mother for Justyce’s birth mother Jessica, spoke with the Post to share the baby’s rocky journey. 

According to the foster mother, she had stayed in contact 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 who begged 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 and given birth and left the baby. 

She had reportedly told a social worker 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 Allen-Little’s care 10 days after she was born. 

The woman was in Turkey when Justyce was born and then had to take care of her elderly mother for several days. In that time, she said she had no idea if the baby was being held or loved.

‘It just made me feel bad to know she was waiting up 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 the proper documentation to obtain health insurance she needs for birth complications

The four-month-old – whose mom had struggled with drug addiction and mental illness before her death – needs physical therapy for paralysis in her right arm

Allen-Little was never informed that she could take on Justyce 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 sort of in a holding pattern, where we didn’t know what else to do,’ Marla Spindel, Allen-Little’s attorney, said. 

Spindel is the executive director of DC KinCare Alliance, a nonprofit that assists family members who are taking on children for their loved ones. 

Allen-Little was referred to Spindel by a judge who recommended she reach out to the agency for assistance with her case. 

Luckily, Spindel said others came in to help out with the child and her needs. 

‘I’ve gotten so many calls and emails from people who want to help,’ Spindel 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,’ the lawyer said. 

Justyce’s mother died, leaving her custodianship in a precarious situation after her birth

‘They say it takes a village and the villagers have been coming through,’ Allen-Little said. ‘She has really created a serious village.’

A GoFundMe set up for baby Justyce has raised over $30,000. 

The funds 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 any way they can.

‘They say it takes a village and the villagers have been coming through,’ Allen-Little said. ‘She has really created a serious village.’ 

Through it all, the foster mom said her she just wanted Justyce to ‘know she matters, that her life matters.’

Allen-Little said the community that has come together for this little girl, some people donating thousands to the campaign. 

‘They are showing her that she matters,’ she said.

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