A retired Indiana police lieutenant, Gene Eyster, was recently reunited with a rookie police officer who turned out to be a baby he helped rescue 24 years ago. The heartwarming reunion took place when one of Eyster's former colleagues informed him that the new recruit, referred to as 'Baby Jesus' at the time of the rescue, was now serving alongside him.
The story dates back to the time when Eyster was with the South Bend Police Department and received a call about a baby found in a box just days before Christmas. Not wanting to dehumanize the infant by labeling him as 'John Doe,' the officers decided to call him 'Baby Jesus' as a symbol of hope and salvation.
The rescued baby, who was later identified as Matthew Hegdus-Stewart, was provided with medical care and placed under the care of Child Protective Services before being adopted. Fast forward to the present day, Hegdus-Stewart has followed in the footsteps of his rescuers and joined the same police department that saved him.
For Eyster, the reunion with Hegdus-Stewart brought a sense of closure after wondering about the baby's fate for over two decades. The unexpected connection between the retired lieutenant and the rookie officer highlighted the profound impact of their initial encounter.
Reflecting on his journey, Hegdus-Stewart acknowledged that the knowledge of his rescue might have subconsciously influenced his decision to pursue a career in law enforcement. While his adoptive parents had access to the police report detailing his rescue, the full extent of the circumstances surrounding his early life remained a mystery until the reunion with Eyster.
The heartwarming reunion between Eyster and Hegdus-Stewart serves as a reminder of the lasting impact that acts of kindness and compassion can have, transcending time and circumstance.
