What happens when a night of celebration turns into the worst moment of your life? In this raw and unflinching conversation, Monica sits down with her son JJ to discuss the night that forever changed both their lives—when JJ's choices behind the wheel resulted in the death of his best friend Casey.

The conversation weaves through memories of Casey, described lovingly as someone who was "exactly like me... very outgoing and outspoken" and "the glue that held a lot of our group together." We hear about their friendship, their shared passion for mechanics, and the fateful graduation party that would end in tragedy. JJ recounts the moments after the Jeep flipped, his desperate attempts at CPR, and the surreal experience of seeing his mother arrive on scene as a first responder.

What stands out most powerfully is JJ's absolute refusal to shirk responsibility. When asked why he pled guilty, he states simply: "When you screw up, own it. You don't own it, you're just enabling yourself to screw up more." This philosophy of accountability becomes the foundation for his remarkable transformation during and after his four-year prison sentence.

Perhaps most striking is JJ's reflection that "the day that Casey died is the day that my life was saved," acknowledging that before the accident, he was heading down a dangerous path. Today, with a growing family and purpose-driven life, JJ speaks at schools about his experience, hoping to prevent others from making similar mistakes. The silent rooms full of attentive students speak to the power of his authenticity.

This episode isn't just about tragedy—it's about how taking full responsibility for our actions, even the most devastating ones, can become the catalyst for profound personal growth. What would happen if we all faced our mistakes with such unflinching honesty?

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A cardboard box in a frigid apartment hallway during a winter storm became the unlikely beginning of an extraordinary full-circle story. Matthew, abandoned as a newborn just days before Christmas in 2000, has defied incredible odds to become a South Bend police officer—the very department that investigated his abandonment. Detective Gene Eyster vividly remembers that night: two feet of snow, temperatures around 15 degrees, and bitter winds. He rushed to the scene and nicknamed the infant “Baby Jesus” because of the timing and circumstances, eventually tracking down Matthew’s parents after three intense days of investigation.

For twenty years afterward, Gene often found himself reflecting on the fate of “Baby Jesus,” driving past the apartment complex regularly and wondering what had become of him. Questions lingered in his mind, unresolved and poignant: Had their paths unknowingly crossed? Was the child still living nearby? Then, a chance conversation between Matthew and a fellow officer revealed the astonishing connection—“Baby Jesus” had grown up to wear the same uniform and patrol the same streets where he’d been found.

Their reunion was deeply healing, especially for Gene, who had recently lost his own adult son. The striking similarities between Matthew and Gene’s late son—same height, build, even facial hair—felt almost providential. For Matthew, meeting Gene brought closure and insight into his earliest days, offering answers he’d sought his entire life.

This remarkable reunion highlights the vital importance of Monica Kelsey’s mission with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, providing desperate parents with anonymous and safe ways to surrender their infants. With 59 babies safely surrendered in baby boxes nationwide and over 200 through legal handoffs, each child now has the opportunity to craft their own extraordinary life story—just as Matthew has done.

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What happens when a child once abandoned becomes a passionate advocate for others facing the same fate? Isabella’s remarkable journey, from being left at a Chinese orphanage at less than two days old to becoming a dedicated champion for Safe Haven Baby Boxes in America, showcases the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.

Adopted at age six by an American family, Isabella faced tremendous challenges—adapting to a new language and culture while navigating physical limitations from malnutrition and severe scoliosis. Instead of allowing these difficulties to define her, Isabella embraced them as stepping stones toward growth, competing in pageants, advocating for legislative changes to protect abandoned babies, and pursuing a future in elementary education at the University of Kentucky.

Perhaps most powerful is Isabella’s compassionate reflection on her birth parents, who likely undertook a difficult two-day journey to ensure her safety at an orphanage—a profound act of love in a culture where female babies often faced rejection. Isabella’s story is a powerful testament to the idea that our beginnings never need to dictate our future impact, inviting listeners to reconsider how personal challenges can be transformed into purposeful action.

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Kentucky State Representative Nancy Tate joins Monica Kelsey to share the powerful legislative journey behind bringing Safe Haven Baby Boxes to the Commonwealth. As a freshman legislator, Tate led the charge on three bills that passed unanimously—an extraordinary feat in today’s political climate. Her passion was sparked by the real-life abandonment of a baby in Bowling Green, and she went above and beyond by visiting Indiana to see the technology in action before advocating for it back home.

Together, Tate and Kelsey dive into how baby boxes meet mothers in crisis with compassion and discretion. In a culture increasingly shaped by privacy and digital interactions, anonymous surrender options provide a modern, life-saving solution. As Kelsey puts it, “These kids are doing everything behind a screen,” and baby boxes meet that reality with dignity and care.

Today, Kentucky has over 50 baby boxes thanks to grassroots support—not government funding. Tate’s vision of 155 boxes, one in every county, continues to rally communities statewide. Through heartfelt stories of birth mothers and adoptive families, this episode highlights how real change begins with understanding human needs—and ends with lives saved.

Kentucky Legislature

HB 155 Bill Text - Kentucky

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What happens when an abandoned baby grows up to protect the very streets where they were once left behind? In this deeply moving conversation, South Bend Police Officer Matthew Stewart shares his extraordinary journey from being the "newspaper baby" – abandoned in a cardboard box in an apartment complex breezeway on Christmas Eve 2000 – to becoming a guardian of his community.

Matthew's story unfolds with remarkable candor as he recounts how tenants heard his cries, leading to his rescue and subsequent adoption. The timing of his abandonment – just before Indiana implemented the Safe Haven Law in 2001 – highlights how different his story might have been had his teenage birth parents had access to safe surrender options like baby boxes. Born at home without medical care and kept for a week before being abandoned, Matthew's very survival seems miraculous.

The conversation takes an extraordinary turn as Matthew reveals how, during his police training, he discovered that the detective who investigated his abandonment case still worked with the department. This full-circle moment provided answers to questions he'd carried his entire life. With remarkable grace, Matthew shares his perspective on connecting with his birth parents and half-siblings, demonstrating forgiveness rather than resentment for the desperate circumstances that led to his abandonment.

Host Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes and an abandoned infant herself, creates a powerful space for authentic connection as they discuss shared experiences of adoption, identity, and finding purpose beyond difficult beginnings. Their conversation illuminates how two people once left behind have transformed potential tragedy into lives of service, family, and remarkable resilience.

South Bend PD

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Linda Znachko, founder of He Knows Your Name Ministry, recounts her journey of providing dignity and proper burials for abandoned infants after seeing a news report about "Baby Doe" found in a dumpster. Her powerful mission statement that "Doe is not a name, a dumpster is not a grave, and a diaper is not burial clothing" has guided her work for over fifteen years. 

Linda shares the heartbreaking yet inspiring journey of how she became an advocate for these infants, beginning with the tragic story of Baby Nicholas and later, Baby Amelia—whose tiny footprint became the symbol of the Safe Haven Baby Boxes movement. Featured in this episode:

Monica and Linda discuss the challenges of raising awareness about safe haven laws, the importance of naming and honoring these lost children, and the crucial role of community involvement. Their deep-rooted passion for protecting vulnerable babies and supporting struggling mothers shines through, as they emphasize the need for continued education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Monica is working hard to put Linda out of business by ensuring babies are safely surrendered rather than abandoned, while continuing to honor those who have been lost.

https://heknowsyourname.org/

https://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/

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Welcome to the debut episode of Beyond the Box with Monica Kelsey, a brand-new podcast from Monica Kelsey, Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. This series will explore the stories behind the mission to protect newborns and provide safe, anonymous options for mothers in crisis.

In this first episode, America’s favorite fire chief, John Moriarty, joins the conversation to reflect on the journey of bringing a Safe Haven Baby Box to Carmel Fire Department. With 43 years of service, John shares how his passion for community outreach led him to champion this life-saving initiative. From initial skepticism to full-hearted support, he recounts the challenges faced during the installation process and the unforgettable moment when their first baby was surrendered—1,194 days after the box was put in place.

The discussion highlights the impact of Baby Amelia’s legacy, the changing attitudes within the fire service, and how new legislation, such as Bill 345, is streamlining adoptions to ensure babies find loving homes faster. This episode sets the stage for future conversations about the power of collaboration, the importance of education, and the lives forever changed by Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

Indiana Safe Haven Law

He Knows Your Name

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