Nourishing Wren: How Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank Supported a New Mother Through an Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
A story of resilience, compassion, and the power of donor milk
When Hannah welcomed her daughter Wren into the world, she had no idea the months that followed would be among the hardest of her life.
Shortly after Wren's birth, Hannah began experiencing intense abdominal pain and discomfort she couldn't explain. For months, she searched for answers. Ovarian cancer is often referred to as “the silent killer.” Pelvic pain is something women are frequently told to push through, and symptoms can be overlooked. For Hannah, that meant months of uncertainty, even as a tumor continued to grow and eventually became visibly apparent. Still, no diagnosis came.
Through all of it, Hannah kept breastfeeding and pumping for Wren, even as her milk supply struggled. She was determined to give her daughter what she needed, even when her own body was clearly signaling that something was wrong.
Eventually, the pain became unbearable, and Hannah went to the emergency room (ER). In a moment that speaks to the kind of mother she is — and with the help of a kind nurse who helped her locate a breast pump — she spent time in that ER pumping, focused on maintaining her supply for her daughter before doctors delivered the news: She had cancer and needed to follow up with oncology.
After surgery to remove the mass, something unexpected happened — her milk supply increased significantly. That gave her roughly a month to stockpile milk for Wren before chemotherapy began and breastfeeding would no longer be safe. She made the most of that time.
When chemo started and she could no longer feed Wren herself, Hannah reached out to Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank. She left what she described as a tearful voicemail for Lindsay Stark, the Milk Bank's manager. Lindsay came through.
The Milk Bank provided Hannah's family with six weeks of donor milk to carry Wren through her mother's treatment. Because Wren had allergies, Lindsay also made sure the family received dairy‑restricted milk — going the extra mile to ensure Wren had exactly what she needed.
Each time Hannah or a family member came to pick up a supply, there were handwritten notes tucked in with the milk — words of encouragement cheering Hannah on as she fought cancer while doing everything she could to take care of her daughter.
Hannah is now cancer free. And in welcome news, she is pregnant with baby number two. We are hopeful this chapter of motherhood brings her the peace and ease she deserves after everything she has been through.
As Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank marks its 20th anniversary, Hannah's story is a reminder of what the organization means to the families it serves: a reliable, compassionate resource that shows up when it matters most.
