Question
My 8 or 9 year old orchid has a new set of leaves about 2/3rds of the way up the mother plant. It is not on a bloom stalk. It has two leaves about 4 inches long. No discernable roots. I am afraid I will harm the mother plant when I try to remove it and harm the new plant as well.  The mother has 16 or more leaves and appears in good health. She is also sending up a bloom stalk above the new baby.

Answer
Judy, from your description, I believe the two leaves are the beginnings of a new plant called a keiki. Most often, these are seen on old bloom stalks but can also can occur on large healthy phalaenopsis plants in other locations as yours is apparently doing.  This would not be a good time to remove it so let it continue to grow.  If left indefinitely, it will not only grow more leaves and roots but could, eventually, bloom on the mother plant.  If you would like to have a separate plant from this keiki, wait at least until the mother plant has finished blooming and the keiki has well developed roots (at least two inches long) before removing it from the mother plant and potting it up separartely.  Removing the keiki by cutting it off exactly at the point where it joins the mother plant will not damage either the mother or keiki.  Just make the cut carefully to avoid damaging the roots of the keiki.