Eighteen years ago, when she was just one day old, a baby named Colleen was surrendered at a “Safe Haven” box in Clermont, Florida. She was received by Battalion Chief Dan Miller at Lake County Firehouse No. 112, and placed with an adoptive family just two weeks later.
Now, Colleen has graduated high school, and once again reunited with many of the stations’ firefighters who were there the day her life changed forever.
Lake County Fire Rescue posted a series of photos Saturday, reporting that upon graduating high school, Colleen is “thriving.”
Back in 2018, Colleen visited Firehouse 112 with her parents for the first time since she was left there as an infant. She was reunited with Dan Miller, and embraced as part of their firehouse family.
RELATED: A Firefighter Longed to Become a Father, Then Someone Left a Newborn at His Fire Station
On that day, they even named a firetruck after the baby who was trusted to them almost eleven years prior. A nervous Dan gave her a bouquet of flowers, and an equally nervous Colleen got a tour of the firehouse, trucks, and day-to-day life of the men who received her on that fateful day.
Fast forward to 2024, and Colleen is making her rounds again, posing in a photo with Dan Miller and four others who were there when she was safely left with them 18 years ago.
“Join us in congratulating Colleen on her huge accomplishment,” Saturday’s post read. “We are so proud of you!”
Echoes of Praise
Comments flooded the Lake County Fire Rescue’s post, with people from all over the internet celebrating both Colleen, and the heroes who are a part of her story.
“Look at all the fathers she has!!!!” One user wrote. “God Bless!!”
“Congratulations Colleen and thank you to the momma who bravely placed her baby in that box knowing she would be safer there than with her,” wrote another, pointing out the unsung hero in this whole story.
“I love, love, LOVE this post and know Colleen will go on to do amazing things! Congratulations, sweetheart,” exclaimed another. “To the heroes at Station 112, thank you for being wonderful humans.”
