When an infant was left without her mom who died in the line of duty, it was a community of mothers banded together to make sure that the 4-month-old would be taken care of.
About 6,000 oz. of breast milk was donated for baby Cora.
Cora was born to Palm Springs California Police Officer Lesley Zerebny. She and a fellow officer were killed on the job in 2016.
A third officer was also injured. Zerebny, 27, had just returned from maternity leave.
Her colleague, Jose Vega, 63, served for more than 30 years and was two months away from retirement.
The officers were shot while responding to a call about a family disturbance.
They were immediately sprayed with gunfire through a door when they arrived on the scene of the disturbance.
John Felix, 26, an ex-felon, has been charged with the crime.
“I have two officers that are now looking down on us from above, and our police department is now walking in the footsteps of two additional heroes,” Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said during a press conference.
When the community learned that Zerenby’s baby was left without a mother one community member asked if donated breast milk was needed.
About 500 oz. of breast milk was donated by local mothers within 24 hours of that question being posed.
“It’s something only mothers can do for Officer Zerebny,” KTVU reporter Claudine Wong wrote on Facebook.
In her post, Wong shared photos sent to her by a friend of all the breast milk that had been donated.
The milk was screened and tested before it is used.
That donation of 5oo oz. expected to last at least a month. Within a week’s time, there was enough breast milk donated to last baby Cara an entire year.
The Centers for Disease Control suggests breastfeeding for the first six months and then continuing breastfeeding along with appropriate foods for up to 2 years of age or more.
Zerebny was breastfeeding and supplementing with formula before she passed away.
The family stopped accepting breast milk donations and instead suggested mothers donate to local milk banks in Zerenby’s name.
The Palm Springs Police Officers Association were also collecting Enfamilk reguline formula at their department for baby Cara.
“But this is not about breast milk or formula, it’s about the human heart and about the desire and the capacity of people to give,” Wong said.
Not only did the community rush to donate milk and formula for the child, but they also donated money.
More than $138,000 was raised via a GoFundMe page to help the family get through their difficult time.
“What a wonderful, selfless act of love from the community,” an update on GoFundMe reads.
Felix was faced with the death penalty or charges of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Zerenby’s family said that Zerenby was living her dream life before it was taken by Felix.
Learn more about this community of mothers rallying together in the video below.
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