'Baby Grace,' Chicago Safe Haven advocate Morgan Hill dies after losing battle with epilepsy: family

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A woman known for her advocacy to help abandoned babies find homes has died.

"Save Abandoned Babies Foundation" announced Morgan Hill has died at 27 years old after a sudden illness.

It was during a time before she could even remember that sparked an advocacy that no one will ever forget.

"She was thrown away in a garbage can, but by the grace of God, she was found," Geras said.

Known before as "Baby Mary Grace," Hill was abandoned behind a Hoffman Estates hospital the day she was born in October of 1995 and found by a construction worker.

RELATED: Baby left in Hoffman Estates dumpster grows up to advocate for Safe Haven laws

She would grow up to turn an unfortunate time in her life into making sure other newborns could have a chance at life.

"She has bared her heart and soul to keep what happened to her from happening to other children," Geras said.

Hill became a national spokesperson for Safe Haven laws, which allow parents to give up a baby safely and anonymously.

Geras worked with Hill for years, taking her advocacy to a national stage.

"That was her mission, and since she has been involved there have been literally thousands of babies saved," Geras said. "What are we going to do without her?"

Hill died suddenly while at home on Thursday after losing her battle with epilepsy and just days after her adopted mother passed away, her family said.

"Her mom was just buried, this morning and Morgan wasn't able to be there. How could that be," Geras said.

Geras said moving forward without Hill will be difficult but keeping her legacy alive is now a priority.

"It just isn't fair. She had so much still to give," she said. "I've been to funerals for the babies that didn't survive, but Morgan was a baby that had been found and survived. I shouldn't have to go to her funeral."