For new mom Jenna Wiggins, breastfeeding is a special time to bond with her 4-month-old son. It's an opportunity Denisse Lopez and her child will never get, after Lopez was killed Sunday night in a wreck at 75th and Metcalf. Her unborn child survived.
"When you hear that story, you just think, 'Oh my gosh, that poor family.' That father, that mother, that baby, you know everyone's affected. It's just very tragic," said Wiggins.
So now Wiggins and at least 40 other moms are ready to help by giving the baby what its mother cannot: breast milk.
"Almost immediately on our Facebook group, the moms were like, 'I've got extra breast milk, I've got extra breast milk, I would be happy to give this baby my breast milk,'" said Ashley Walburn, owner of hOMe holistic center, which collects breast milk for babies in need.
Walburn says she has reached out to Lopez's family to offer breast milk to the baby, but has yet to hear back.
"I think it's just important for us to give when we can and to give what we can," said Walburn.
Many studies show breastfed babies receive a big nutritional benefit, which this caring group of moms hopes to deliver.
"Just giving him the fresh start in life that he could have if his mom was still here," said Wiggins.
If you are interested in donating breast milk, visit the hOMe holistic website here.
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Justin Wilfon can be reached at justin.wilfon@kshb.com.
