Human Milk for Human Babies

LINDSAY KING-MILLER

MESSAGE REQUEST

From: Zuzu Shaw

To: Cori Kennedy

Hi Cori, I saw your post on the Mother’s Milk forum about having oversupply and wanting to donate milk. I would love to take you up on your generous offer. I’d be happy to come by your house to pick it up.

If you respond to this message, Zuzu Shaw will be added to your list of contacts.

From: Cori Kennedy

To: Zuzu Shaw

Hi Zuzu! Wow, you responded to my post fast. Yes, I’d love to have you come pick up some milk and help me reclaim my freezer space, LOL! How old is your babe? Mine is starting to wean herself, but I have to keep pumping because every time I stop I get mastitis. UGH. We’re up on the north side by the lake, how about you? Want to bring your little one with you? Amelie and I could both use a playdate! We just moved here right before she was born and we haven’t really found our “people” yet.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

I also live near the lake. How does 1 pm tomorrow sound? We don’t have many people either, although we’ve been in this area longer.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Awesome! Here’s my address: [open in map]

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

Thank you (and Amelie) for having me over today, and for sharing your milk. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring my little girl with me, but I hope we can meet up again soon. After all, she and Amelie are milk sisters now, so in a way, we’re all a family.

FRIEND REQUEST

To: Zuzu Shaw

Cori Kennedy has sent you a Friend Request. If you accept, you will be able to see and interact with each other’s Profile.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Hey! I added you hoping I could peek at cute baby pictures on your profile, but I guess you’re not as much of a paparazzi mama as me. Could you send me a pic of your little one, and remind me what her name is?

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

I worry about privacy with putting photos online. I have some on my phone but I lost my charger; I’ll text you after I get a new one. In the meantime, do you happen to have any more milk you can spare?

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Absolutely! Wow, she went through that fast. Is she hitting a growth spurt? Amelie just had one a few weeks ago, and they’re right around the same age, aren’t they? It’s so wild how you wake up in the morning and they’re like six inches longer than you remember. We’re going to be out running errands today, so I can just bring a cooler by, since you’re in the neighborhood. Can you send me your address?

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

They just keep growing and growing. Always hungry. Don’t worry about dropping it off, I can pick it up another day.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

It’s no trouble! I’m already out and I have the cooler in my backseat, so I should really get it to you before it gets too warm.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

I live here: [open in map] Please don’t ring the doorbell, I don’t want anything to wake up.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Thanks for taking the milk off our hands, and I’m sorry for interrupting you in the middle of a nap! Totally understand not letting us in, but I’d love to come over sometime when you’re up to having company and the baby isn’t asleep. I’ll bring takeout and a bottle of wine, LOL.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

Thank you for the invitation to Amelie’s birthday party. We won’t be able to make it that day, but congratulations to you both on a year of life.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

No worries! I’m also using the birthday as an impetus to go through Amelie’s dresser and putting together a box of things to give away. Your little one is younger, right? Do you want to look at stuff before we take it to Goodwill?

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

Thank you for the offer, but no, my child is older than Amelie.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Why did I think she was younger? It’s so funny that after all this time I still haven’t met your daughter! What are the two of you up to this weekend? We might go to the zoo.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

May I come by and pick up more milk?

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

I was hoping to tell you this in person, but it’s so hard to find time to meet! Now that Amelie is a year old, I’m trying to cut back on pumping and letting my supply dry up. I have a little bit in the freezer from the last few weeks, but after that I think I won’t have milk to donate anymore. Hopefully we can still find occasional excuses to get together!

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

I saw your post on the forum asking for donor milk—you sound really panicked and I’m sorry for taking you by surprise! I didn’t realize you were running so low. Pardon me for being intrusive, but your daughter must be eating solid food by now, right? It’s probably not healthy for her to subsist on nothing but milk, if she’s more than a year old.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

It’s not healthy at all.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Are you at home right now? Can I bring the last of my milk by, and maybe we can talk?

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

I’m not at home. I’m at the house.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

I’m worried about you. Stay calm, okay? I’ll be right over.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Are you here? I’ve been knocking on the door but no one is answering.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

I hear someone crying inside. Is that you? Is it your daughter? If you don’t answer the door I’m going to call somebody.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

Don’t leave. I can’t do this without you. I tried to do it alone but it’s just too hard.

From: Cori

To: Zuzu

Believe me, I understand. You don’t have to be ashamed that you’re struggling. I know how hard raising a baby alone is.

From: Zuzu

To: Cori

You don’t know. But I’ll show you. Stay there. I’m coming.

MISSING WOMAN SUSPECTED OF CHILD ABANDONMENT

Lakeview—Police are searching for Cordelia Kennedy, age 27, who is suspected of abandoning her 1-year-old daughter.

Kennedy, a single mother, has not been seen since she left work on the afternoon of Friday, August 25. Her daughter was found by police in a house several blocks from Kennedy’s residence. Neighbors called police when they heard a child crying from inside the house, which has been unoccupied for more than a year.

Kennedy’s car was found outside the house, but her phone and purse were gone. There was no sign of struggle. The child was unharmed and is in city custody while authorities attempt to find her other family members.