As an active, outdoorsy crew, Mike and Jessica’s family loves spending time together outside. Alongside their daughter and son, they spend a lot of time gardening and especially growing garlic, which they share with friends and neighbors each year.
Their daughter Olivia is a vivacious little girl who keeps up with the best of them. She loves animals, especially her pet gecko, and fully embraces the joy of childhood. If you met her today, you’d never know that she was born six weeks early and spent her first weeks of life in the NICU.
An Unexpected Delivery
When Jessica went into labor at just 32 weeks, she and Mike knew their introduction to parenthood would look different than expected. Thankfully, doctors were able to delay labor for two weeks, but Jessica had to remain in the hospital until her daughter was born.
The sudden change left Mike—an engineer who’s used to facts, logic, and control—overwhelmed and full of questions.
“It was a very scary experience,” he shared, “especially when we had to leave her there. We had to go back to work while she was still in the NICU, and that was scary.”
How Donor Milk Became a Lifeline
Olivia was born at 34 weeks and found a temporary home in the NICU. As they settled into their routine there, Jessica quickly learned that she had very little control over her milk supply. Because Olivia was early, Jessica’s milk took a while to come in. With such a limited supply, they began to worry about how they would feed their tiny newborn—already so fragile and struggling in the NICU.
That’s when they were introduced to donor human milk from Mothers’ Milk Bank, a gift they will never forget.
“Since Olivia came prematurely, Jessica never really had a full milk supply,” Mike explained. “Even after her milk came in, she was only able to breastfeed for a few months, so we had to supplement with donor milk for quite a while.”
That donor milk was a lifesaver. It gave her the nutrients she needed to grow stronger, both in the NICU and in the critical months that followed at home.
Happy, Healthy, and Grateful
Today, Olivia is a thriving fourth grader. She loves to draw and is an avid Denver Nuggets fan (even though the rest of the family isn’t big on basketball). Her joyful, energetic spirit is a daily reminder of just how far she’s come.
“Her outcome was really a best-case scenario,” Mike said, “and we’re just so grateful for that.”
Mike and Jessica know how different things might have been. They understand that many premature babies face lifelong health challenges, and they credit donor milk, given selflessly by other parents, as a vital part of Olivia’s healthy start.
“Milk donors are helping people they don’t even know during the most stressful moments of their lives,” Mike said. “They really are unsung heroes, and we’re so grateful.”
Giving Back, Ten Years Later
Nearly a decade after bringing Olivia home, Mike and Jessica are proud to support Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation and Mothers’ Milk Bank. Like so many of our donors, their personal connection to our mission fuels their desire to give.
“When you’re raising kids and paying for a house, it’s hard to find extra money to donate,” Mike shared. “But we saved up until we could, and we hope we can increase the amount going forward. It’s really a dream come true and an honor to give back.”
How you can help NICU Families
This month, you can join Mike and Jessica in supporting babies in the NICU by making a gift to Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. Your donation provides lifesaving donor milk, gas cards, and other essentials to families going through one of the most stressful moments of their lives.
Together, we can ensure every baby—like Olivia—gets the healthiest possible start.
