News June 28, 2019

People 'waiting in line' to adopt 'miracle' baby found in a plastic bag, says Georgia official

WATCH: New hope for abandoned 'miracle' baby as families line up to adopt

The baby girl who was found abandoned in a plastic grocery bag in Georgia earlier this month is now "laughing" and "smiling," and may soon find a forever home, according to Tom Rawlings, the director of Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services.

"We have people waiting in line to provide that child with a forever home," Rawlings said in an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America."

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(MORE: Incredible body camera video shows moment newborn girl was found alive in plastic grocery bag)
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Body camera video captured the moment an abandoned newborn girl was found alive inside a plastic grocery bag in Georgia.

The unidentified infant, who has been given the name India, was found on June 6 in a plastic grocery bag along the side of a road in Forsyth County. Authorities released gut-wrenching bodycam footage of her rescue that pulled at the heartstrings of viewers across the country.

"In child protective services we deal with a lot of tragedy, of course, but it’s great to have a miracle," Rawlings said of baby India's survival. "And this truly is a miracle."

"I’ve been working child protective services for almost 20 years now, this is one of the most exciting, wonderful miracles I’ve seen in my life," he added.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office via AP
This photo released by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office shows a newborn baby girl found alive in a plastic bag in a wooded area in Cumming, Ga., by Forsyth County deputies Thursday, June 6, 2019. She was taken to a hospital and is listed in stable condition.

While Rawlings said he couldn't disclose too much about where India is now due to confidentiality reasons, he personally checks up on her.

"I know the child's being well cared for, I’ve been kind checking up on it," he said.

"Baby India is doing great, her health is good, and miraculously, considering what she went through, she is doing so well," he added. "We're hoping of course that we can find perhaps who did this but we’re also hoping we can get her in a home that will be her forever home as soon as we can."

Rawlings added that his agency has received hundreds of calls and social media messages from people interested in adopting India, though he added there is already a waiting list of about 200 families looking to adopt babies in Georgia alone.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Ron Freeman of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office speaks at a press conference regarding an infant that was found in Georgia, June 7, 2019.
(MORE: 'I wanted to give her comfort': Deputy recounts dramatic night he rescued newborn baby girl left in plastic bag)

While law enforcement has been eager to find out more about the baby's identity, Rawlings said that "so far, we haven't found a parent or a relative yet."

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Body camera video captured the moment an abandoned newborn girl was found alive inside a plastic grocery bag in Georgia.

Rawlings added that he hopes India's story can help "raise awareness of the fact that there are many children out there who need homes" and encourage families to look into fostering or adopting.

"Everybody loves babies, but there are plenty of 6-year-olds and 12-year-olds and 15-year-olds who just need a forever family just as much," he added.