I have just gotten a telephone call from a Nutritionist out on the island
here in Puerto Rico.  There is a 6 year old child hospitalized and in a
coma for the last 3 weeks who has been unable to tolerate any food for many
weeks.  She states the child is immunosuppressed according to the reports
from the MD´s and they are all at their wit´s end.  

Her question to me was if there are any studies which report the possible
positive effects of breast milk on a child this old.  

I reviewed with her all the risks of giving donor breast milk and the need
to discuss these with the physicians and the parents.  She just called back
to say they are willing to consider therapy of donor breast milk after
appropriate tests of HIV and Hepatities B and testing of the milk.   They
understand that it would be best not to use processed milk as this child
needs the live cells. 

HELP - what are your thoughts?  Any experiences and any studies being done
for this type of situation?  I know there have been babies receiving donor
milk from mother to mother here, but not this sick, and not with my direct
involvement.  

The docs want information on the benefits of breast milk for people who are
immunosuppressed.  Of course, my concern is that if the child is
immunosuppressed, she may also receive bacteria or viruses which may cause
more illness - boy, what a Catch-22 situation!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Puerto Rico
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