Women from across the US Donate Breast Milk for a 5-Month-Old Baby Whose Mom Died of COVID

A mother of six passed away from the COVID-19 virus, unable to fulfill the one hope she had for her youngest baby boy. Amazingly, people from all across the country stepped in.

Thirty-two-year-old Megan Richards from Missouri was a family-focused woman through and through and adored her children. Her mother-in-law expressed:

“She’s a great mom. She’s all about her kids.”

She shared a step-child with her husband and now widower Michael Richards and five biological children. The youngest is 5-month-old Myles, whom she was determined to breastfeed until his first birthday.

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A DEDICATED MOTHER

In early November, Megan and the family contracted COVID-19. Michael said she was so intent on looking after everyone else that she neglected herself. This was especially so when providing her son with breastmilk. He recollected:

"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."

Michael said she refused to do so. The father recalled constantly worrying about ensuring that her children got enough rest, focusing on that instead of herself.

A DEVASTATING SHOCK

Initially, Myles became sicker, so the parents took him to the hospital, suffering from dehydration. Luckily, the baby managed to make it through.

However, on November 14, 2021, Megan's husband found her unconscious insider their home and called emergency services. At the hospital, they said she was dehydrated and had pneumonia; complications due to COVID -19

Initially, they thought she would improve and get better, but sadly, she passed away on November 15, 2021, leaving her spouse and six kids behind.

HONORING HER DYING WISH

Determined to do something for their passed loved one, Megan's family began calling for breast milk donations. The widower expressed:

"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."

After sharing their story with a local news station, a wave of positive responses came through. Individuals from all over the United States began sending them breastmilk.

THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER

On December 2, 2021, the last reported amount of milk Good Samaritans had donated to the family at that point was 400 oz.

Not only this, but strangers donated a freezer to store the milk in, and hundreds of emails flooded through of more women looking to help.

NEVER FORGET

Megan was the only one out of their entire immediate family who was unvaccinated, so her loved ones are pushing others to take heed and get the vaccine shot. Michael said:

“I regret that I didn’t push her to get it.”

Continuing, the grieving father stated that he would continue to keep her memories alive. He reiterated what an amazing mother she was and expressed, "She lived with no regrets, and she put them [the children] before anyone else."