An Appeal for Mothers Breast Milk

My friend, Ann Tolentino, is looking for breast milk donations. Kindly click on this Link for more information. Meanwhile, I am reposting an entry from my previous blog about Ann's son, Zach. :D

This is Zach - October 2, 2006

Two weeks ago, I bumped into a friend of mine, Ann Tolentino. Actually, our bumping into each other was only the second time we've met but I feel we have a bond that was meant to be. I met her two years ago when she came to my house with a cooler filled with ice. She was picking up my breastmilk to give to her son. Her little boy, Zachary, was born prematurely at 31 weeks and was in an incubator fighting for his life. There was a call for breastmilk and since Raya was feeding directly anyway from me (I was pumping just to increase my milk supply) then I didn't really need the milk stored in my freezer. I never saw Ann again after that. Not until that meeting two weeks ago. Seeing her and hearing how much Zach has grown (he is now 2 1/2 years old) has brought tears to my eyes! The wonder of breastmilk!

But I have never been more proud than this moment. You see when I gave birth to Nadine five years ago, I was told that I didn't have enough milk to feed my baby. I tried and breastfed Nadine for 1 1/2 months only. That is one of the biggest regrets of my life up to this day. But with Raya, I proved them all wrong by being able to breastfeed her for 1 1/2 years. And now seeing Zach all big and healthy... I am more convinced that I DO have milk and that it is healthy and nutritious. I just wish I am able to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed their babies too.