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Calgary Spark

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

The MOM Project

1/19/2017

4 Comments

 

Author

Caitlin d'Esterre
Calgary, AB, Canada


Picture
Each participant of The MOM Project will receive a welcome packet like this one.
​As a Community of Christ member, I believe that we are all called, compelled even, to approach our lives in a critical way. We are urged to look at the world around us and see opportunities for growth, change, betterment and empowerment. We are then driven to think outside the four walls of our church, and be innovators to help our communities.

As a nurse in one of the busiest Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICU) in Canada, I see families from all walks of life facing their worst nightmare: a sick newborn baby. One day I was working with a particularly small baby who had never gotten any breastmilk, even though her mother said she was pumping regularly. I asked this mother about the pump she was using. It turned out she couldn’t afford a hospital grade pump rental, which is essential to the milk supply of a NICU mom.

I called every resource in the city looking for an affordable option for this mother. I was startled to learn that most mothers without employer benefits do not qualify for any sort of cost relief. The most vulnerable mothers in our province are denied the opportunity to give their babies breast milk because of finances.

This situation plagued me for months, until I realised that I was being called to invent a solution. My congregation could initiate the kind of service these women needed. After several weeks of work with my pastor and other supporters, The Mother’s Own Milk (MOM) Project was born. The Calgary congregation purchased six hospital grade breast pumps to be rented to mothers at a low monthly cost. We can abolish poverty and end suffering by simply allowing mothers to feed their children the way nature intended.

This was my calling.
4 Comments
Sam Smalldon
1/19/2017 01:48:03 pm

Well done Caitlin!

Reply
Carman Thompson
1/19/2017 07:35:03 pm

Way to go Caitlin. Great vision and execution. Good job!

Reply
Terry Ball
1/24/2017 03:49:12 pm

Very innovative idea, I'm very proud of you Cait.

Reply
Shirley Smith
3/13/2017 01:40:16 pm

Caitlin ...Thank you for you dedication and wisdom in identifying and meeting a real need .This is a great project and I want to contribute in any way when you need help.
Hugs Shirley Smith

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