Magali Hernandez pumps breast milk while playing with her son Franco Ramirez at her home in San Francisco on September 24, 2024. Her son Franco, who was born May 5, initially suffered from serious health issues and was hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he received donated breast milk. As Franco’s health stabilized, Magali has started donating her own breast milk for other infants in need. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Magali Hernandez feeds her son Franco Ramirez as her dog Baxter looks on at her home in San Francisco on September 24, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
A wall in honor of people who have donated breast milk at the Mothers’ Milk Bank California in San Jose on September 26, 2024. The Mothers’ Milk Bank California serves the Bay Area, but their donated and processed breast milk is shipped as far away as Baltimore. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
CEO Jennifer Benito-Kowalski poses for a portrait at the Mothers’ Milk Bank California in San Jose on September 26, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Gerald Astrero puts a batch of donated Brest milk into a freezer at the Mothers’ Milk Bank California in San Jose on September 26, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Glass containers are filled with a blend of donated breast milk at the Mothers’ Milk Bank California in San Jose on September 26, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Brittni Russell stores Jessica Bruce’s breast milk in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on September 26, 2024. The NICU often offers donated breast milk as an option for newborns who are suffering from health issues. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaela Barbosa cradles her baby Serenity Barbosa, who was born two days prior, as Kaela’s sister, Jennifer Martin, left, and lactation specialist April Grady look on in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on September 26, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Kaela Barbosa cradles her baby Serenity Barbosa, who was born two days prior, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on September 26, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Breast milk from Jessica Bruce sits chilled in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on September 26, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Franco Ramirez looks up at his mother Magali Hernandez at their home in San Francisco on September 24, 2024. Franco, who was born May 5, initially suffered from serious health issues and was hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he received donated breast milk. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)
Magali Hernandez kisses her son Franco Ramirez at her home in San Francisco on September 24, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The San Francisco Standard)