It was night, and I was trying to find parking in order to turn the driving over to Freckles. I pulled into to an interstate rest area, just hoping to get lucky, but not really believing there would be a spot. The off ramp shoulder was full, and it was a small, tight parking area. As I pulled behind the tight row of parked trucks, I saw something that took a minute to fully register.

There was a small SUV on the sidewalk of the truck parking side. It was almost fully on the sidewalk except for the left side tires and was “bottomed out,” or the curb was touching the bottom of the vehicle. That was odd, but not as odd as the young woman laying in the parking lot next to the curb–not moving.

I parked right there and jumped out, I walked up to her and said, “Ma’am? Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

She stirred a little and kind of got up on her elbow and was dry heaving. She stated that she was ok and laid back down on the concrete. The driver side door was open, the vehicle was running, and the stereo was at full volume. She sat up, and I asked, “Can I turn the music down so we can talk?”

She said “yes,” and I could see her eyes now and felt like she was on something. I reached in to turn the stereo down and realized there was a baby in a car seat in the back. Really cute baby, clean and well cared for. This baby was just hanging out, not crying, nothing. I asked her if she was on drugs, and she stated she was not. The low gas warning light was on and I took that opportunity to ask her, “Can I turn the car off so you don’t run out of gas?”

She again said, “yes.” And I turned the keys off and looked at the baby and removed the keys from the ignition. I also noticed she was wearing a tank top, a yoga type outfit and the temperature was around 25-26 degrees. There was a jacket on the back of the drivers seat, and I put it over her shoulders carefully and realized I need Freckles. I went and stuck my head in the truck and woke up Freckles quickly, told her to get dressed and that I need her. I spent the time Freckles was getting dressed begging her for the phone number of anybody in the world I could call that knows her. She said, “There’s nobody.” The most concerning thing I realized, she hasn’t really acknowledged that there is a baby in the back seat.

It’s probably very easy for most people to be outraged that a young mom, in that condition, is driving a baby around. I mean, that’s bad. There were a ton of baby supply items and all signs of an otherwise good mom. I tried to call an ambulance while Freckles stayed with her and helped her get back up and sit in the car. The 911 operator stated he can’t send an ambulance to somebody who doesn’t want one. She had already stated she “just wanted sleep.” I was transferred to the state police and they were there in about 10-15 minutes.

They tried to administer a field sobriety test, but she was unable to participate. They put her in a patrol car and the baby in another patrol car for warmth. They stated she was probably going to jail, the baby to CYS (Child and Youth Services.) That was exactly what I didn’t want to happen, and it messed me up for a couple of days.

It was 25-26 degrees, as I said, and the car would not have been running much longer according to the fuel gauge. I had to decide the baby would possibly freeze to death at that point possibly. Also, how could I believe that she wouldn’t drive off again? I didn’t sleep well for a couple of nights after that, but ultimately–I did the right thing. I would like to think she was just ill in some way. I sincerely hope, whatever the actual reason for her impairment, she got a wake up call and turns her life around.