“If he could talk, he would say ‘thank you for saving his life.’”
After a medically necessary delivery at 37 weeks, Jazmin Jones worked with an IBCLC to discover that her son, Jenson, was struggling to swallow while breastfeeding. After numerous medical visits, Jazmin and Jenson’s pediatrician determined that pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) was the safest and most nutritious option for Jenson.
Medical experts agree that access to safe donor milk is critical in the fight against infant mortality. However financial barriers can exist that continue to compound health disparities. That is why The Milk Bank has established a medical relief fund.
Executive Director, Freedom Kolb, elaborates, “No family should have to choose between and the ability to pay and lifesaving medical interventions for their child.”
The Milk Bank believes that financial resources or lack of eligible insurance should never be a determinant of health outcomes, and supporters like the Arthur Dean Family Foundation agree. The Arthur Dean Family Foundation recently gave $25,000 to ensure qualifying families have access to the donor milk they need. The gift was endowed to establish the Best Start Fund which will permanently create a resource for more families like Jenson’s.
The Jones family is like many families The Milk Bank serves. Families who need donor milk may have babies with complex medical issues. Others may have experienced maternal health complications or other support needs such as adoption. Due to these reasons and the financial impacts of COVID-19, The Milk Bank saw a 98.9% increase in requests for the medical relief fund over the last year. During 2020, the Medical Relief Fund distributed $101,520 to provide 22,926 ounces of milk.
Today, Jenson is thriving. He recently celebrated his first birthday. Jenson’s first birthday is a milestone that The Milk Bank wants every child to achieve. Together, with the support of milk donors, financial supporters, and volunteers, we will continue to improve access to lifesaving human milk. Together, we can continue to reduce infant mortality in Indiana.
Interested in supporting the Medical Relief Fund? Make your gift today.
Interested in contributing to the endowed Best Start Fund created by the Arthur Dean Family Foundation? Contact Jenna Streit, Development Director.
