My daughter was born 3lbs  and 12oz, on February 10th 2011 at 37 weeks. She was tiny for her gestational age because she experienced, Intrauterine Growth Restriction  (IUGR). I had an emergency C-Section and she was placed into the NICU. I was determined to breastfeed my daughter prior to her birth so this change of events was not going to deter me from breastfeeding. In addition to the IUGR situation, I was suffering from Pre-Eclampsia, so after I gave birth they placed me on Magnesium to get my blood pressure down. For the first 2 days after giving birth, I could not provide my daughter breast milk due to the medication in my system. The lactation expert came by my hospital room and we proceeded with initiating my milk supply with an electric pump, I got very little at first, however I proceeded with pumping and dumping my little bit of milk every couple of hours. I begged the doctors to take me off of the blood pressure medications and pain killers so that I can give my daughter the precious liquid gold. Ultimately, they gave in and my blood pressure was reasonable enough to come off of the medicine and I could start to pump milk to be provided to my daughter in the NICU. My husband was a tremendous amount of support during this time, he transported the milk to the NICU for my daughter while I recovered. In a couple of days, I had the freezer in the NICU over flowing with a supply of milk for my daughter. When I was feeling better, we started to practicing “latching on” with the Lactation Expert, trying to breast feed a low birth weight baby can be so daunting, she is so little and my breast is so big. My daughter kept trying to latch on and for about 3-4 weeks she couldn’t. Practicing latching did not stop in the NICU, when we got home, we practiced latching until she finally got it. So, for about 2-3 months; I pumped milk and breastfed her directly. After, the 3rd month, she didn’t really take milk from a bottle; only from my breast. When my daughter was in the NICU, the nurses informed me that my daughter may have Sickle Cell Anemia and that she would need to be re-tested at about 4 months of age. I was devastated. I knew I had the Sickle Cell trait. My husband unfortunately, incorrectly assessed his own situation. He did not have Sickle Cell Trait but he did have the C trait and our trait combination can create Hemoglobin SC disease, a mild form of Sickle Cell. My daughter’s Sickle Cell test at 4 months confirmed that she has Hemoglobin SC Disease. So, we started to take my daughter to a hematologist. We were informed that my daughter should take penicillin every day, twice a day until she is 5 years old. I was highly, uncomfortable with that. The antibiotic is a prophylactic to prevent my daughter from getting bacteria infections that can be critical to SC patients. I believe strongly in the power of breast milk and I believe my milk could protect her from illness more than anything else. I took additional measures and stayed at home with my daughter for a year and now that I’m working, she has a nanny that watches her in our home. She’s not overly exposed to illness. My daughter just turned 2 years old and that was my breastfeeding goal. Although, due to the Sickle Cell and the miracles I have seen breastfeeding do for my daughter, I have no idea when we will stop. My daughter, gained weight beautifully and she has caught up to her peers physically and developmentally. She had a hernia when she was a couple of months old and that resolved on its own (no surgery). My daughter has been visiting an optometrist for intermittent exotropia (eye wandering); the optometrist stated at her latest appt., that he doesn’t know what I did but the eye condition appears to have gone away as well as nearsightedness that they initially diagnosed her with. In two years my daughter has never been sick with the exception of a cold; that she, myself and my husband caught in Jamaica due to cold river water. ( I know it wasn’t a good idea to place my daughter in river water, big mistake). However, through that sickness she breastfed, when she wouldn’t eat anything else. My daughter has never had an ear infection or even a diaper rash. My daughter is extremely healthy. I see breast milk as a cure all. In regards to the sickle cell, her blood count has remained at good levels and we haven’t experienced any issues at all from that. My hope is that the small bits of stem cells that’s in breast milk will provide my daughter with lasting protection in her life against the Sickle Cell. There are some people that suffer with Sickle Cell tremendously and there are others that are practically asymptomatic, my goal is for my daughter to be as close to asymptomatic as possible. There should really be more studies on breastfeeding and Sickle Cell. One of the mantras of the Sickle Cell community is “ hydrate, hydrate, hydrate”…what better way to keep a baby/toddler hydrated than with breast milk? Breast milk is the ultimate healer for babies and it is the ultimate comfort, my daughter looooooves her “ Breasty”.