Can you spare some breastmilk for Anaya?

I've written before about the rise in informal breastmilk sharing as an alternative to formula feeding. For some parents, giving their babies human milk is a preference -- i.e. they just want to give their baby what nature intended. For other parents, however, giving breast milk can be a life or death, comfort or suffering, health or sickness type of scenario. Today I want to tell you about one of those cases and also send out a plea to any readers who might be able to help.

Anaya and her big sister Solara

I was forwarded an e-mail from Katie Edwards who is trying to get the word out about her friend Camara's need for human milk for her daughter. Katie wrote:

My friend Camara is extremely busy caring for her terminally ill baby, but she has asked me to contact you in hopes that you can help spread the word. She says it best: "I'm looking for breast milk donations for my daughter Anaya. She is terminally ill with Krabbe Leukodystrophy. We were told to expect her to die at 13 months. She is now 18 months old thanks to breast milk! She does not tolerate formula. Please, please help me keep my baby alive. We can have milk shipped from any city in Canada."

CBC news did a wonderful short piece on Camara and Anaya's story and their quest to find breastmilk for Anaya. You can watch it here: A Mother's Plea.

Camara and her family live in Nelson, British Columbia. To learn more about their story or to find out how you can help, you can also check out Camara's blog Healing Anaya and her facebook page The Anaya Initiative.

Comments

[Perfect Dad]

Although I know babies die all over the world all the time the unfairness always hits me in the heart. This story is tragic but I'm happy for Anaya that she has the parents she does. My prayers go out to them.

[Dana K]

Thank you for sharing this story. I had never heard of this disorder. I informally shared the breast milk my son could not use due to his disorder with another baby whose mother had supply issues. I found out about her through my doula. I wish more people (and more governments) would understand the importance of breast milk sharing, especially in situations like this.

It was a blessing to me to be able to help another baby after my son was born. I hope they receive the donations that will help Anaya. I will be sharing this.

[Daphne]

Has she posted on MilkShare (http://milkshare.birthingforlife.com/) or Eats on Feets (via Facebook)? I was able to connect with a wonderful Mamma in my area who donated breast milk when my daughter was a newborn and I had supply issues.

[Erin]

Eats on Feet has largely transferred to Human Milk for Human Babies - still on facebook, but the complete and up-to-date postings are found there now (I believe). I wish I lived in Canada! I would ramp up my pumping, increase my supply, and send it all to Camara. I'll be in BC in August and I'm trying to figure out how much extra milk I could make myself produce during that period. I really hope she gets the milk her daughter needs!

[Katie Edwards]

Camara is in touch with Human Milk 4 Human Babies - they are wonderful!! I hadn't heard about MilkShare, though - thanks for the tip!

[Katie Edwards]

Right now, Camara is specifically looking for colostrum donations. Some new Australian research suggests that there's a ton of stem cells in it!

She also needs monetary donations to help pay for a special stroller for Anaya. There's a new website at http://www.healinganaya.com/ with more information!

[bhn]

Yes. I am an admin for HM4HB and she has connected with us.