The Milk Bank Bereavement Program

We give our deepest condolences for your tragic loss. We’re here to help your grieving family as much as possible.

Donating filled my heart with such excitement and joy because I knew I was helping these fragile little preemies in honor of my sweet son.

– Sheri Rukavina on donating after the loss of her son

Dear Grieving Mother,

Please accept my deepest sympathies during this difficult time. Knowing that you are reading this means that you have suffered a loss. A loss so great that there are no words. Please know, while our stories may be different, I understand the pain you are feeling, for I, too, have suffered a similar loss. After my son, Michael, passed away, I was left with milk that he would never use. Donating my milk to The Milk Bank in his memory, allowed me to heal and provided comfort knowing that other babies’ lives could be saved by receiving this gift of “liquid gold.” I commend you for considering milk donation during this difficult time and hope that you, too, will also find healing.

Sincerely,
Lauren Duncan, Clinical Programming Coordinator, The Milk Bank

Lauren Duncan and her son, Michael

Garret’s Gift Bereavement Program

In 2007, the Director of Clinical Operations at The Milk Bank began to investigate whether or not a mother that had experienced a loss found a healing benefit (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.) from pumping and donating milk in memory of a lost child. Resoundingly, mothers felt that the donation was certainly beneficial. As our Bereavement Program was developing, the decision was made to honor the infant of the first bereavement donor we worked with back in 2005, Garrett.

Our Bereavement Program provides families that have experienced a loss the chance to donate milk in honor of their little one. Each leaf on our tree has the name of a baby whose family has donated milk in the hopes of saving another life.

Your generous donation helps to provide resources to our bereavement mothers who give the gift of life during their loss.

Donating in Memory

We’re here to make the donation process for a grieving family as seamless as possible.

If you have experienced a loss and would like to donate milk, please contact us at 317-536-1670

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