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Baby Chloe Thriving While CPS Still Seeks Answers and a New Home for Abandoned Infant

Video: KHOU 11 News

Erin Mulvaney, Houston Chronicle
An infant abandoned last week in Cypress was healthy enough on Monday to be released from Texas Children’s Hospital and temporarily given to a foster family.

Named Chloe by hospital officials, the 6-day-old has a full head of black hair, big gray eyes and already has a small bottom tooth, which is unusual for newborns and is considered a genetic trait. And it could be a clue to finding the girl’s family.

So far, Chloe is healthy and has been a sweet baby, said her case worker, Kliche Adebanjo. “She is a normal, healthy baby,” Adebanjo said, as she held the tiny newborn in her arms. “The only time she fusses is when she’s hungry or needs a diaper change. She’s usually quiet and content.”

Chloe will be cared for by a foster family until her court date on March 4, when a judge will make a decision about her fate. Until then, Child Protective Services officials hope relatives will come forward so that she can be placed with them or that an adoptive family will have an idea of her background and family medical history.

CPS is required to first consider a relative as a custodian if appropriate family members are willing and able to raise the child. CPS spokeswoman Estella Olguin said Monday investigators have no leads to the newborn’s family.

The mystery began to unfold on Feb. 19 when the newborn was found by a woman walking her dog.

The child was alive in a plastic bag near the Stonegate Villas Apartments in the 11000 block of Grant Road in Cypress. About 3 inches of the naked baby’s umbilical cord was still attached and had been cut.

“We were fortunate the baby was found so quickly and that the woman looked in the bag,” Olguin said.

Officials believe when the baby was found she was about two hours old and was slightly premature at 35 weeks gestation.

(Read more of the story at Chron.com)

MORE COVERAGE OF THIS STORY:

• Abandoned newborn released from hospital (KPRC 2 News)
• Child abandoned in shopping bag gets a name (KRIV 26 News)

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