Milk Banking Success Stories
Baby Chloe’s Story

Chloe Gazeley, 15 weeks early and only 1lb 2oz, was the smallest baby ever born at Wirral Hospital. Mum Jacqui was critically ill. Chloe was fighting for her life.

 

"I wanted Chloe to have my milk", said Jacqui, "but my medication might have harmed her. When we heard about donor milk we gave permission right away."

Steve, Chloe’s father, agrees.

"It’s a fantastic idea", he said. "Chloe had no immune system. Her skin was so thin she was vulnerable to infection. Only real mother’s milk could help build up her resistance."
photo courtesy of Wirral Chronicle



At first, Chloe was fed just 10 drops of donor milk through a tube.

"When she drank her first 2ml bottle (less than a teaspoon!) it was a real day to remember" recalls Steve.

"It took her over an hour to finish it!"

Chloe was fed donor mothers’ milk for the first vital 5 weeks of her life.

Seen here at 9 months, Chloe is a bouncing 12lbs. Jacqui, Steve and Chloe are grateful to the dedicated medical team and to the unknown mums and babies who shared those vital drops of life-giving mothers’ milk.



Lisa and Macie's Story

Lisa Salisbury became a milk donor unexpectedly - because her own baby was premature!

Little Macie surprised everyone by arriving in the world 3 months early, and Lisa was amazed to discover that she had special, rare milk, super-rich in nutrients only made by mothers of premature babies. When Lisa saw her tiny 2lb 2oz baby on a ventilator, she knew that Macie had to benefit.

Lisa stored her milk in miniature syringes and froze it for Macie. But tiny babies have tiny appetites. When Macie was old enough to be nursed, her parents’ freezer still overflowed with milk - all arranged in date order by Macie’s father Matt.
"I couldn’t throw the milk away when it could give another premature baby the gift of health" said Lisa. "After all, my milk helped make Macie incredibly strong and healthy.
I donated it to the nearest Milk Bank at Huddersfield. It feels good to help so much with just a bit of milk."

Lisa, Matt and Macie’s gift of 10 litres of special milk has provided thousand of feeds for other premature babies - quite a feat for one generous mum!