Strangers are donating breast milk to a baby boy whose unvaccinated mother died of COVID-19 complications six months after he was born.
Megan Richards, 32, from Oak Grove, Missouri, died last month, leaving behind six children, including her five-month-old son Myles, whom she planned on breastfeeding through his first birthday.
‘It was one of the things that she wanted the most for the baby, and it was important to her, so it was important to me,’ Megan’s husband, Michael Richards told Good Morning America.
Megan Richards, 32, from Oak Grove, Missouri, died last month, leaving behind six children, including her five-month-old son Myles (pictured)
The mother had planned on breastfeeding the baby boy until his first birthday. So far, the family has received about 400 ounces of donated breast milk and a donated freezer to store it
‘Even when she got sick and I was trying to keep her in bed, and just try to get her to rest, I talked to her about it maybe being time to stop pumping — she’d been pumping to be able to feed him with a bottle — and she refused.’
Michael shared his family’s heartbreaking story with their local news station WDAF-TV, explaining that Megan had breastmilk stored, but they needed more.
He asked that anyone who was able to help email his sister-in-law Brittany Eppenauer, who is leading the drive for breast milk donations.
So far, the family has received about 400 ounces of donated breast milk and a donated freezer to store it, GMA reported. They estimate they will need around 10,000 ounces to reach Myles’s first birthday in July.
Michael and Megan would have celebrated their second wedding anniversary on November 30
Megan had five biological children and also shared a stepchild with her husband. The oldest of their six kids is 13 years old while Myles is the youngest at five months old
The family needs an estimated 10,000 ounces to reach Myles’s birthday in July
Eppenauer told the outlet she’s received nearly 300 emails from women who want to donate in Megan’s honor.
‘The first donation that we received came from a woman named Megan,’ she said. ‘It’s overwhelming to know that other moms care that much, to make sure that we can fulfill my sister’s wishes.’
Michael and Megan would have celebrated their second wedding anniversary on November 30. They had gone to school together and reconnected six years ago through Facebook.
Megan had five biological children and also shared a stepchild with her husband. The oldest of their six kids is 13 years old.
Megan, Michael, and all six of their children had contracted COVID-19 in mid-November, but most of them only had mild symptoms
The mom, who was not vaccinated, was rushed to the hospital on November 14 after she passed out in the living room and died the next day
The couple and all of their children had contracted COVID-19 in mid-November, but most of them only had mild symptoms. While Myles had to be treated for dehydration, he recovered quickly after.
Megan, who wasn’t vaccinated, was rushed to the hospital by ambulance on November 14 after Michael found her unresponsive on the floor.
‘I stepped outside to call 911, and when I got back inside Megan was laying on the living room floor,’ he recalled. ‘Our oldest said she stood up and said she didn’t feel right and passed out.’
The mom was treated for dehydration and was diagnosed with COVID pneumonia, according to Michael. Megan, who had fluid buildup around her heart, continued to worsen and died the next day.
The family is now urging others to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
‘I regret that I didn’t push her to get it,’ Michael told WDAF-TV.