As all parents know, there’s nothing as important as the health and safety of their babies, and the formula shortage has left many people feeling anxious about how they’ll feed them. Some young children, teens, and adults with medical needs also rely on formula for their nutrition. The baby formula is still in short supply and in high demand across the country. While efforts have been made to ease the nationwide shortage, parents are still stressing about feeding their children. The COVID-19 pandemic created supply chain and staffing issues, and a recent recall of baby formula due to contaminated products from a key factory added to the problem.
This unfortunate mother is hoping to relieve some of the stress many are feeling when it comes to finding their children the formula they desperately need. Her name is Shelby Duggan-Meltzer and she says her act of kindness has come at a horrific cost to her and her family.
Duggan-Meltzer is reportedly donating all of the baby formula she purchased for her twin boys. Sadly, they both suddenly died before they were 14 weeks old. Her twin sons Forrest and Foster, described as little perfect bundles of joy were born on February 14, 2022. According to the mother of four, when Foster was just a month old, he passed away from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
The unfortunate mother reportedly told WRTV: “They were perfect in every single way. You never ever think you are going to do CPR on your 30-day-old baby.”
Shelby also said that she initially started out breastfeeding her babies, but switched to formula after Foster’s death because the heartbreak of losing Foster was too much and Forrest was having acid reflux. So she turned to formula.
Few months after Foster’s sudden death, Forrest also suddenly died. Despite recently visiting the doctor, the coroner found Forrest had been dealing with pneumonia. As the mother mourned the loss of her twin sons, she had an issue on her hands: what to do with all the formula she purchased and suddenly had no use for.
So, the mother decided the best thing to do was to donate all of her excess cans of baby formula to those parents still struggling to find some for their babies.
“Those cans I bought $35 a piece, and I have 15 cans. Even though it’s hurting me inside, someone else is a little relieved. Just hug your babies, cause time is of the essence and you just don’t know when they’ll be gone.” the mother told WRTV.
The unfortunate mother from lndiana hopes her story reminds parents to enjoy what time they have with their children. She also said that she decided to help in a time of desperation for many parents, in honor of her two sons.
Featured Image Source – YouTube Video | PrtScr