Help me pay it forward...women helping women

Everyone has that one person in their lives. The one you never expected to become your unexpected savior. Facebook photos never tell the whole story of someone’s life...it usually highlights the great moments and glosses over the challenging, sad, angry or messy ones. It was Lani, a daycare provider in the infant room, where John and I had to enroll Lily at a tender 12 weeks old who became my family’s unexpected savior.

Lily was a bottler refuser by week seven of her life, I had to breast feed exclusively; pumping became obsolete; she simply would not drink from a bottle. I brought in every specialist I could afford. I was desperate, exhausted. The weeks we’re eclipsing until I had to return to work. 12 weeks into our baby girl’s life I, in tears, put her into daycare to return to a full time work schedule with no confidence that she would find a way to eat. I was sick, overcome  by anxiety, and terrified.  Cut to Lani, who in addition to looking after a room full of infants, took on the challenge to help Lily eat. When Lily would repeatedly not latch to a bottle, Lani diligently and delicately hand squirted milk from the nipple of a bottle into Lily’s  mouth...everyday... for weeks. One day, months into that routine, John was doing pickup for Lily. The daycare administrator met him at the door elated. “Look through the window of the infant room,” she said. “ You really have to see this!” What did he see? Lani with Lily, in rocking chair, and Lily was DRINKING FROM A BOTTLE! From that moment on, Lily never looked back. Bottle feeding was no longer a hurdle.

Lani has been at every family event since that day; she is family to us. She is also the key provider for her family. Working multiple jobs with very few breaks. She works longer and harder than anyone I’ve ever known. Now she is facing health challenges that have not only exhausted her, but could negatively impact her family for whom she works so hard. In the sprit of being kind during these times of turmoil, would you consider donating even a small amount to help her and her family traverse some extra tough times? Any amount helps. You have our gratitude. -Kate, John, and Lily McKee

(The picture of Lily featured In this postwas taken by Lani after doing a craft together to celebrate Lily’s birthday)