A newborn, found in grave circumstances next to her deceased mother, has been thrown an unexpected lifeline. The emaciated baby girl was discovered in a Phoenix apartment where she laid for an undetermined period, alongside her mother who had tragically passed away. The Phoenix Police Department responded to a neighbor's concern of the mother not being seen for days, leading to this heart-wrenching scenario. Breaking into the apartment, officers encountered the infant, identified as Harmony, on the bed, severely dehydrated and close to death, according to footage and statements obtained by The New York Post.
Though the name or gender of the child was initially not revealed, later reports by FOX 10 Phoenix confirmed the identity of the infant as Harmony. The child, just three weeks old, is now under the care of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. But according to reports, there's a glimmer of hope – Harmony has a family ready to provide her with a home. Derrick Hill, the father of Harmony's half-brother, 7-year-old DJ, and his wife Catherine have expressed their desire to welcome Harmony into their family, echoing a commitment to fill her life with love and the memory of her mother, Jade Hardin who was 31 years old at her time of death.
When Derrick received the call about the situation, he stated, "It was instant tears. It was the worst thing I could ever hear," as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. With the biological father's identity unknown, the Hills are looking to gain custody and keep the siblings together. "We want to have that baby experience, the same love that we have for our kids," said Derrick, while Catherine shared, "We're big on family, super big on family, and we just want her to experience that love that we have."
Harmony's rescue by the Phoenix police was a moment balanced on the knife-edge of tragedy and hope. Sgt. Brian Bower, a spokesperson for the police, told The New York Post, "It wasn’t learned until well after the fact from doctors and staff at the hospital that if the police officers didn’t immediately provide aid and didn’t immediately go into the apartment, the child may not have survived much longer." The neighbor who reported concern clearly played a crucial role, with their actions possibly altering the course of Harmony's fragile life.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community is rallying to support the baby. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with Harmony's needs and can be accessed through FOX 10 Phoenix. As for Jade Hardin, her untimely death leaves behind a void, one that Derrick and Catherine Hill hope to fill with stories, pictures, and a family's love for her daughter, Harmony, ensuring that her memory lives on. The investigation into Hardin's death is still ongoing, as the authorities work to uncover the events leading up to the fateful discovery that saved Harmony's life.
