Unprecedented Act of Generosity Helps Save Vulnerable Infants
In an extraordinary demonstration of maternal generosity, a Texas woman has shattered her own Guinness World Record by donating an astounding 2,645.58 liters of breastmilk, setting a new global benchmark for individual donations.
Alyse Ogletree, 36, surpassed her previous 2014 record of 1,569.79 liters with her continued donations to the Mothers’ Milk Bank in North Texas. Her total contributions, measured through July 2023, have already exceeded the verified record amount, though subsequent donations were not included in the official count.
A journey of discovery and dedication
The remarkable journey began in 2010 when Ogletree, after giving birth to her first son Kyle, discovered she was overproducing milk. “Our first child, Kyle, was in the hospital, and I was filling the nurses’ freezer,” she recalled. “A nurse asked if I was donating, which I didn’t know was possible, and that is when I learned about it.”
The motivation behind the mission
“I have a big heart,” Ogletree told Guinness officials. “At the end of the day, I’m not made of money and I can’t give away money to good causes over and over because I have a family I have to support.”
Ogletree’s donation journey has spanned multiple pregnancies, including those with her children Kage, 12, and Kory, 7, as well as during her time as a surrogate mother. Despite never receiving a medical explanation for her abundant milk production, she attributes her success to maintaining proper hydration, following a healthy diet, and keeping a consistent pumping schedule.
Shaina Starks, executive director of Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, praised Ogletree’s contributions: “Alyse Ogletree has astounded and inspired us once again through her remarkable commitment to donate an incomprehensible amount of surplus breastmilk to fragile infants. Her life-saving efforts are an undeniable testament to her extraordinary generosity and compassion.”
Spreading awareness
“It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Ogletree said of her donation efforts. She now advocates for increased awareness about breastmilk donation, hoping to inspire other mothers who might be able to help babies in need.
The impact of Ogletree’s donations extends far beyond the numbers, providing vital nutrition to countless vulnerable infants and setting an inspiring example of how individual actions can make a profound difference in the lives of others.