Elisabeth Anderson-Sierra, a supermom of three, has done something extraordinary by donating a huge amount of breastmilk to help save the lives of many babies, including premature ones. She broke the Guinness World Record for the largest breastmilk donation by an individual, giving an incredible 1,599.68 liters (about 422.59 gallons) to a milk bank in just three years. That’s the same as filling 800 two-liter soda bottles!
This amount doesn’t even include the milk she shared with families around the world. Over nine years, Elisabeth estimates she has donated over 350,000 ounces of milk. She produces an extraordinary amount of milk daily, thanks to a rare condition called hyperlactation syndrome. This condition causes her to produce over 6 liters (1.75 gallons) a day.
Her generosity has earned her the nickname “Milk Goddess” in her hometown of Beaverton, Oregon. Locals admire her for her ability to produce milk and her dedication to helping others. Elisabeth stays humble, saying she just has a gift she can share.
One powerful story involves her trip to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017. There, she met baby Joaquin, a premature baby who had lost his mother during childbirth. His father was struggling to find milk for him. When Joaquin thrived on Elisabeth’s milk, she made a commitment to send breastmilk to him for a whole year.
Pumping milk isn’t an easy task. Elisabeth spends four to five hours daily on this, managing her milk supply. Although pumping can be uncomfortable and tiring, she says it’s her labor of love.
In the past three years, she’s donated 700 gallons of milk, which is twice the previous world record. Running her milk donation operation is expensive, but Elisabeth isn’t in it for the money. “I’m not making a profit, but it keeps me going,” she says.
Despite the challenges, Elisabeth continues to pump and give back to her community. Her story is a testament to how a rare condition can lead to something positive, inspiring others to give back. She hopes that sharing her story will help normalize milk sharing and encourage others to help.
