She’s been dubbed a warrior, miracle worker, rock star and an amazing momma bear.
But Sierra Strangfeld felt like none of those things. All she felt was the loss of her baby, Samuel, just hours after he was born.
Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, Trisomy 18, Strangfeld’s son was not going to survive. She had him induced before he would have died so that they could meet – for all of three hours, which is as long as his life lasted.
And then she pondered.
How could she leave a legacy of life for Samuel, whose own life had been cut so short? By nourishing others, the mom from Neillsville, Wisconsin, told “Good Morning America.”
“When I found out I was pregnant again, I wanted nothing more than to be successful at breastfeeding,” she wrote on Facebook. “Before Samuel passed, I told myself I would pump my milk to donate.”
Her daughter had survived on donated breast milk for more than six months after her birth, Strangfeld noted.
“I’ve always wanted to be able to help another mom in need,” Strangfeld told “GMA.” “Samuel would have had a hefty NICU stay had he survived, so I know we would have had to use donated milk to a point. Now I can be the one helping others.”
Trisomy 18 is a rare genetic condition in which cells have three copies, rather than two, of chromosome number 18, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
“Infants with Trisomy 18 will usually be small at birth and have a recognizable appearance caused by the extra chromosome,” the health department said. “Some of these features include: prominent back of the head; small eyes, mouth, and jaw; unusual looking ears; clenched fist with overlapping fingers and thumbs; small fingernails; clubbed or rocker bottom soles of the feet; a short breast bone (sternum); and extra skin folds at the back of the neck.”
Samuel emerged with some of the classic characteristics.
“His hands were clenched, his feet were clubbed, he was small, but he was so perfect,” Strangfeld told “GMA.” “He fought so hard to meet us.”
Trisomy 18 happens at a rate of one in 2,000 to 6,000 live births, the health department says. The cause is unknown. Generally speaking, just 50% of babies carried to term will be born alive, and of those, most survive only 2.5 to 14.5 days.
For Strangfeld, there was only one way to move forward.
“I couldn’t save Samuel’s life, but maybe I could save another baby’s life,” she wrote in her Facebook post.
Strangfeld did not hold back in describing the physical and emotional toll.
“Pumping is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard. Mentally and physically,” she wrote.
“And it’s even harder when you don’t actually have a baby. There were times I was angry because why did my milk have to come in when I had no baby to feed? Why was I waking up in the middle of the night for this? The other part of me felt it was the only thing connecting me to Samuel here on Earthside. I sure hope he’s proud of me!”
Those who read her Facebook post were effusive with their admiration and gratitude, calling her everything from a warrior to an amazing human.
Strangfeld pumped for 63 days, generating 500 ounces of milk. And last Wednesday, on what would have been Samuel’s due date, she donated it to milk banks.
“Walking through the hallways of the hospital was just another step in healing,” Strangfeld wrote. “And I know, (because I felt him), that Samuel was there with me.”