Donor Spotlight: Kara’s Story

Although Kara’s breastfeeding journey began differently than she had hoped, she embraced the challenges and turned them into a deeply rewarding, positive experience – and uniquely her own. Here’s her story.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I fully expected to breastfeed as it just seemed like the natural first step. But when my son couldn’t latch, I found myself suddenly thrown into the world of exclusive pumping. On top of that, I had an oversupply and had no idea what to do with all the extra milk. That’s when I discovered the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank – and I was thrilled to learn that I could give back.

Knowing that my milk could help nourish the tiniest and most vulnerable babies in our region gave my pumping journey a whole new purpose. It kept me going through the 12 a.m. alarms, the clogged ducts, the endless mental math of bottle counts and freezer space. My mother-in-law even gave up her deep freezer so I could store every last ounce to donate.

The Milk Bank shipped all the supplies I needed quickly and arranged for overnight delivery to Toronto. The whole process was smooth and supportive from start to finish.

When my second child was born and also couldn’t nurse, I didn’t hesitate – I knew I wanted to pump and donate again. And once again, the team at the Milk Bank was so kind, so helpful, and made the entire experience just as seamless. For nearly 14 months of exclusive pumping for my daughter, I was able to continue giving back.

Even though I still grieve the breastfeeding experience I hoped for, donating to the Milk Bank brought such meaning and fulfillment to my journey. It turned a challenge into something profoundly positive and for that, I’m so grateful.

A few years ago, a friend’s baby briefly needed donor milk in the neonatal intensive care unit due to jaundice, and she said, ‘I thought of you’. It made me feel so proud to know that she had learned about the Milk Bank through my journey, and that babies like hers were benefitting from the great work that the Milk Bank does across Ontario and the East Coast.

Learn more about how to become a Milk Bank donor.