20/05/2025
Human milk donation day
19 th May 2025
Milk Donation -A Humanitarian Gestures that Nourishes hope”,
This slogan is proved by their actions by wondeful couple Mrs Anupama Mr Rajesh and Mrs pratiksha and Mr chiranjeev patil.
Story in their own words
The Gift That Saved Our Baby: A Story of Motherhood, Milk, and Miracles
This is the story of me and my wife, Pratiksha Chavan — and the incredible woman Anupama whose selfless act helped save our son’s life.
Our baby boy was born micro premature at just 27 weeks and 4 days. A tiny warrior entering the world too soon, yet full of fight. For the first 10 days in the NICU, things felt cautiously hopeful. He was stable. We clung to every breath, every tiny movement, and let ourselves believe he was on a steady path to recovery.
Then came the diagnosis that shook our world: sepsis.
It was devastating to learn that the infection was linked to the expressed breast milk (EBM) of Pratiksha had been lovingly pumping for our son. Her own milk culture had come back positive. That moment broke something inside us — not just fear and helplessness, but guilt, confusion, and heartbreak. We had been trying to give him the very best we could. Suddenly, it felt like even that had gone wrong.
Around that time, another couple, Anupama and Rajesh, were admitted to the NICU with their baby boy, born at 29 weeks and 4 days.
I remember seeing Anupama for the first time, wheeled into the NICU the day after her C-section, Rajesh standing protectively behind her. Their faces mirrored the same fear and uncertainty we’d worn just two weeks earlier. I couldn’t help but approach them. I told them — not just as comfort, but from experience — that things would be okay. That hope is stronger in here than fear.
As days passed, we found ourselves crossing paths with Anupama and Rajesh more often. We talked, we shared, and soon they learned about our baby’s sepsis — and how we had to stop giving Pratiksha’s milk. Each day, I scrambled to arrange pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) from different hospitals, just to make sure he got what he needed.
Then came a moment we’ll never forget.
Anupama, who had a healthy milk supply, approached us one day — not because she was asked, not because she had to — but because she wanted to help. She had already been asked by the NICU staff if she’d like to donate milk, she chose to offer it directly to our baby.
It was the kindest act of compassion, one mother to another.
From the moment our son started receiving Anupama’s milk, we saw a change. His condition slowly started improving. His vitals stabilized. His weight began to increase. And for the first time in weeks, we felt a flicker of real, grounded hope.
Anupama continued to pump milk for our baby, alongside her own, for nearly two months. She literally gave our son the strength he needed to heal. Her milk was not just nourishment — it was medicine, it was love, it was life-saving.
We will never forget what she did for us.
This story is not just a thank you to Anupama and Rajesh — though we are endlessly grateful — it’s a call to every mother out there with an abundant milk supply. Please, if you find yourself expressing more than your baby needs, know that your milk can be a miracle for another child in the NICU.
There are mothers who, due to complications, infections, surgeries, or low supply, cannot provide milk to their fragile newborns. For micro-preemies like ours, formula is not an option. Pasteurized donor milk is helpful, but often not enough. The next best thing after a mother’s own milk is freshly expressed milk from another mother. It can make all the difference between infection and recovery, between fear and hope, between life and loss.
Anupama’s selfless act gave our baby a second chance. We hope her example inspires many more to do the same.
To all the mothers out there — your milk is more powerful than you know. Don’t let it go to waste. Let it become a lifeline for a child who needs it most.
with both parents conscent
At present both the babies are extremely doing well and thrieving with their own Mother Milk .
parents Anupama and Rajesh
With their warrior and wonderful child JOY.
