Coronavirus News: Connecticut teacher caring for newborn while family recovers from COVID-19

April 30, 2020

ABC 7

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT - APRIL 20: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Baby Neysel, then 2 1/2 stretches in his bassinet at the home of Stamford Elementary school teacher Luciana Lira on April 20, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. Lira, 42, is caring for the baby while Neysel's immigrant mother Zully, a Guatemalan asylum seeker, and her family recover from COVID-19. Lira became a temporary guardian for the newborn after Zully went to the Stamford Hospital emergency room, almost 8 months pregnant and sick with COVID-19. She was taken to the ICU, put on a ventilator and hospital staff performed an emergency C-section. Baby Neysel was born on April 2, 2020, five weeks early and healthy but unable to return to his home, as his father Marvin and half brother Junior, 7, had been exposed to the virus. Marvin contacted Lira, Junior's ESL teacher and asked if she could take temporary custody of the baby, so as to not potentially infect the child. Marvin and Junior later tested positive and have been quarantined at home. Lira continues teaching her elementary school students, albeit remotely, while also caring for the infant at home. She plans to continue doing so until the Guatemalan family all test negative for the virus and say they are ready to bring the child home. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

By Marcus Solis

STAMFORD, Connecticut (WABC) -- A Connecticut teacher is taking care of a newborn baby boy for one of her students as his family recovers from COVID-19.

Luciana Lira, 42, who teaches English as a second language at Hart Magnet Elementary School in Stamford, became a temporary guardian for the newborn who was delivered prematurely by emergency C-section.

Baby Neysel was born on April 2, five weeks early and healthy but unable to go home because his mother Zully, father Marvin and 7-year-old brother Junior had all tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

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