Mothers' Milk Bank Austin

We celebrated National Volunteer Week earlier this month, honoring the many volunteers who truly make a world of a difference in the health and lives of preterm and ill infants. One group of volunteers we recognized is our amazing Junior League of Austin (JLA) team. Over the past 15 years, the Milk Bank has been fortunate to be a Community Project of JLA and has benefited tremendously from the dedicated women who select us as their nonprofit of choice to fulfill their volunteer hours. Next month we will say goodbye to our incredible 2014-­2015 team, and we’ve just learned that we will welcome a new team for 2015-2016 – thank you Junior Leaguers! In addition to providing the woman power necessary to help us meet our mission, this amazing organization has supported our Charitable Care Program (CCP) since 1999. The CCP is a philanthropically supported program that allows the Milk Bank to provide donor milk to every baby with a medical need – regardless of insurance coverage or famil...

As a twin born at 26 weeks, 3 days, weighing just 1lb, 15oz, and facing several severe medical complications, milk recipient baby Rafael “Felo” received 5,514 ounces donor human milk from April until November, 2014. His parents express how grateful they are for generous milk donors who provided lifesaving milk to their son when he had to spend 3.5 months in the NICU after developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a potentially fatal intestinal disorder. On August 15, 2013, our twins came into this world at only 26 weeks and 3 days.  Camila “Mila” Jane and Rafael “Felo” Joseph both weighed in at 1 lb 15 oz.   After a few hours in recovery, I wanted to start pumping.  My nurse helped me hand express the first few days until my supply was established enough for pumping.  I knew that breast milk was very important especially for preterm infants. The babies were doing well considering their early arrival.  But on September 1, 2013, Felo’s small intesti...

Dianne Russo, former milk donor and current MMBA ambassador, shares her story about why she chose to donate with her son, Ben, and how becoming a milk donor has enabled her to begin teaching him the importance of giving back at a young age When I was a high school teacher I loved the feeling of being needed by my students. But after my son was born I became a stay-at-home mom and, suddenly, I was only needed by him. Don’t get me wrong, it’s the best job in the world to care for my child, but I missed the feeling of being needed by people outside of my home. That’s when I came across the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Austin. The idea that my breast milk could literally save the lives of premature and sick infants was the ultimate reward. And all I had to do was pump a little extra mi lk each day while my little one was sleeping! Every time I dropped my donations off at the milk bank I would picture little babies drinking my milk and instantly growing bigger and stronger. I’d thank my so...

Jana Sharpe-Sanders has known about the milk bank since she was a young girl. Her father, one of the milk bank’s founders, was a beloved visionary and outstanding neonatologist in Austin. His early death, and that of his wife Diana, was a huge loss to the milk bank and the medical community.  Read Jana’s tribute to her father, the milk bank, and to paying it forward! The Mothers' Milk Bank of Austin has been a part of my family since day one of its existence. My father, Dr. George Sharpe, Neonatologist and Director of the NICU, was the co-founder of the MMBA with Dr. Sonny Rivera back in 1998. Dr. George Sharpe He knew when it first started that it was going to be one of his crowning achievements in life. He believed in breastfeeding so much that when I had my first daughter, Kira, in 2004 and was having problems getting her to latch on, he sent over Lactation Specialist Barbara Wilson-Clay to my apartment as a welcome home gift! Well, she worked miracles and latch...

Receiving donated breast milk and dispensing it to save the lives of fragile babies is our mission. Donors report many reasons for their donations, ranging from compassion to insufficient freezer space. For a small but significant group of donors, however, giving followed the loss of their baby.  The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin recognizes the 1,207 donors who have given in their bereavement since our founding in 1999. Erin Umberger, milk donor, MMBA ambassador, and mother of milk recipient baby Sarah Rose, shares her personal story about losing her beautiful daughter, and her mission to help save the lives of other babies born too soon and too small. My precious daughter Sarah Rose was born extremely prematurely, at 23 weeks and 6 days gestation. While in the NICU, I learned how important human milk is for small and sick babies. Initially, I could not produce enough milk for Sarah, so she received milk from donor moms. I am so grateful that those women  donated their...

Families needing donor human milk are always in crisis. Always! Imagine if your sick child needed breastmilk, but you didn’t have enough – or any. Fortunately, the founders of the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin knew a preterm infant’s first foods must not be compromised. Drs. George Sharpe and Audelio Rivera founded the milk bank to provide donor human milk for babies with a medical need until mom’s own milk became available. Libby’s story is heartwrenching. Mother of a severely low birthweight infant, she didn’t have enough milk. The milk bank provided donor milk for five weeks until baby Xzavier was mature enough to digest formula. He’s healthy today thanks to our compassionate milk donors and generous financial contributors. Xzavier’s mom shares their story.  I found out I was pregnant with my second child on Father’s Day 2012. As we each had one child from a previous marriage, my boyfriend and I were thrilled to be adding to our blended family. We enjoyed each moment o...

Last year Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin raised nearly $25,000 during the inaugural 24-hour Amplify Austin citywide fundraising campaign. This year’s Amplify Austin begins Thursday, March 20, at 6 p.m., and the Milk Bank joins over 400 area non-profit organizations in requesting tax-deductible contributions. By 6 p.m. Friday, we aim to raise $50,000 – all earmarked for our Charitable Care Program . Can we do it? Yes!!! But we need your help. Your contribution to the Milk Bank via Amplify Austin will be especially valuable to us. First, your gifts can be matched by generous sponsors. Second, we can win hourly $1,000 awards for the most donors and/or most dollars raised – and many of you will be feeding your babies in the middle of the night when other organizations’ donors are asleep! Here’s how you can help us: Email all your family and friends . Tell them what the Milk Bank means to you, and what our Charitable Care Program means to families with infants who have a ...