Belen firefighter adopts boy in Baby Box

BELEN — Full of energy and smiles, Mikel Martinez loves to dance, he enjoys making people laugh and he’s mastered making “fishy” faces.

The only two words he can say is “mama” and “dada” — which is appropriate for the 1-year-old boy, who was formally adopted Monday by Belen Fire Department Lt. Chris Martinez and his wife, Janae.

Mikel and his parents were joined by Chris’ coworkers, family and friends at Belen’s main fire station to celebrate his adoption in the same building where he was surrendered 13 months earlier in the Safe Haven Baby Box.

Mikel was the first baby surrendered in the Baby Box on Feb. 6, 2024. The city installed the device in October 2023, just four months earlier.

“I’ve been (at the Belen Fire Department) for 15 years, this is my second home, and to have a baby placed here in this box, as a firefighter, and to be able to be his dad means the world to us,” Chris said. “My wife, Janae, and I are so blessed and so thankful to the parents.

“They wanted a better life for their baby. We will take care of him. We’ll give him the best life that we possibly can.”

The Martinez’s journey to forming a family had been a dream for many years. Janae said after dealing with infertility issues, they decided to become foster parents in the summer of 2023.

“Having a family is something we’ve always wanted, and to be able to say today that we’re officially a family means so much to us,” Janae said. “I wasn’t sure if I’d ever become a mother, and he always wanted to be a father.”

The Martinezes began the process with CYFD to become foster parents, and began taking classes. Call it being at the right place at the right time, or just plain luck, but they became certified foster parents one week before Mikel was placed in the box.

That day wasn’t your typical day for the BFD lieutenant. He and his crew had responded to a fully-engulfed structure fire early that morning.

“They said someone was trapped, and we tried to make entry into the residents. We were unable to save the resident,” Chris said. “We were there all night into the next day until about 1 o’clock. We were all pretty down, pretty sad that we had lost a person.”

When Chris had tried to enter the house to save the woman, the flames were just too large, he said. In his efforts to save the victim, he was injured himself, suffering burns to both wrists and both ears.

As he and his crew were pulling up to the station, his fellow lieutenant, Patrick Encinias, called out that there was a baby in the box.

“As firefighters, we’re always joking, and we didn’t believe him,” Chris said. “He said, ‘No, for reals, grab the bags, there’s a baby.’ Luckily the lieutenant and our paramedic chief, Ariel Esquibel, were there and took care of him right away.”

Chris says he’s grateful to everyone who has helped their family, from the folks at CYFD, Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Box, and his fellow firefighters.

“The whole fire station, they believe that he’s their baby, too. He has a lot of uncles and aunties, and they all feel apart of it because they’re going to help raise him,” Chris said. “He’ll be looking up to them throughout his whole life. He’s part of the station now.”

“He’s such a good dad,” Janae said of Chris. “We are absolutely going to be able to give this kiddo the best life he deserves. It feels good. It feels right. We’re just so happy to finally become a family.”

While Mikel is not quite walking yet, Janae says when he does, they better all watch out.

“He’s thriving. He’s the happiest little boy ever,” Chris said. “He’s a loving boy. He’s getting into everything. He’s so smart, and he’s learning a lot and so fast.

“I’m just blessed that he’s my son and to carry on the Martinez name because I’m the last — and now he is.”

Kelsey said when the box was installed in the Hub City, she wasn’t sure if it would ever be used.

“But in early February, we stood right here and talked about a baby boy who was surrendered ... by parents that wanted something more for him,” Kelsey said. “(He has) a forever family who loves him, who cherishes him and will always be his safe place to call home. Today, we are celebrating that.”

Kelsey said Mikel was not abandoned, but was lovingly, faithfully, legally and anonymously surrendered by a parent who loved him unconditionally.

“Today, we are here to celebrate Mikel , his name, his life, his cough,” she said. “We celebrate him because it’s a good day ... I have been on this journey with you guys since the beginning.

“I’ve been invested in this little guy since the beginning, and I’m so proud to be here today to celebrate with you guys. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a firefighter one day right here in Belen.”

There are 321 active Baby Boxes throughout the country in 21 states, with 10 in New Mexico.