Meet the Woman Who Donated 1,599 Liters of Human M*lk and Broke a World Record While Saving 350,000 Babies
When we hear the phrase “world record,” we usually think of extreme stunts, athletic feats, or massive food challenges. But sometimes, a record speaks more about the human heart than anything else. In a quiet home in the United States, a mother named Jessica Anne Brolsma broke a Guinness World Record not with fame or fanfare — but with love, sacrifice, and a freezer full of donated m*lk. And what she did for thousands of fragile, premature babies across the country is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Jessica’s journey into this world of life-saving giving began not as a mission, but out of necessity. When her daughter was born prematurely and required care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Jessica produced more m*lk than her baby needed. Most new mothers might not know what to do in such a situation. But Jessica didn’t hesitate. She realized her surplus could save the lives of other babies fighting for survival in hospitals. What started as an act of kindness quickly turned into a life-changing calling.
Over the span of just a few years — from February 2015 to June 2018 — Jessica donated a staggering 1,599.68 liters of human mlk. That’s 56,126 US fluid ounces, all pumped, stored, and donated with care. Her generosity earned her a place in the Guinness World Records as the largest human mlk donor ever recorded. But even more important than the certificate was the impact: tens of thousands of babies — some weighing just a few pounds — received the vital nutrients they needed during the most fragile days of their lives.
Jessica gave all her mlk to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, a nonprofit that collects, screens, and distributes donor mlk to NICUs throughout the region. For parents of premature infants, donor mlk can be the difference between life and death. It’s easier to digest than formula, carries immune-boosting properties, and reduces the risk of serious complications. For babies whose mothers can’t produce enough mlk, donors like Jessica are literal lifesavers.
What makes Jessica’s record even more powerful is that it wasn’t easy. Pumping isn’t just something mothers do for a few minutes a day. It’s a commitment. It means waking up in the middle of the night, adjusting daily routines, enduring physical exhaustion, and making sure everything is properly sterilized and stored. For years, Jessica made that choice — over and over again. She wasn’t doing it for attention. She wasn’t doing it for a title. She did it because it was the right thing to do.
And she kept going far beyond what anyone would expect.
Most milk banks have strict safety standards and time limits. Donated m*lk must be screened, processed, and stored properly to be safe for fragile babies. Jessica worked with the organization closely, ensuring that every ounce she gave was safe, clean, and usable. It takes intense dedication and coordination — not just casually handing over a few frozen bags here and there. This was a system, a rhythm, and a choice she made every single day for nearly four years.
The scale of what she did is hard to visualize. Imagine filling up a standard 1-liter water bottle — now do that 1,599 times. Then picture that milk being carefully packed and shipped across hospitals, where it would nourish premature infants, ease the burden on struggling parents, and provide a fighting chance for those who entered the world too early and too small.
When Guinness World Records officially recognized Jessica in 2022, the world finally got to hear her story. But for many parents, she had already become a silent hero long before that. Those parents may never know her name, but her gift touched their lives. Her milk fed their babies when they couldn’t. It gave strength when there was none. And it brought peace to parents who were desperate for any sign of hope.
Today, Jessica’s story continues to inspire not just mothers, but anyone who wonders what kind of difference one person can make. You don’t need to have millions in the bank or a massive platform to change lives. You need heart, consistency, and the willingness to show up — again and again — even when no one is watching.
In an era when records often celebrate flashy accomplishments, this one stands out. Jessica’s donation wasn’t about fame. It was about humanity. It was about answering a need with quiet power and a relentless spirit.
As the world takes in her accomplishment, it also opens the door to conversations around donor m*lk, maternal support, and infant health. Jessica’s work reminds us that there are everyday heroes among us — people making invisible sacrifices, fighting invisible battles, and offering help not for reward, but because it’s the right thing to do.
So the next time someone asks what kind of world record is worth breaking, just tell them about the mother who gave 1,599 liters of herself — literally — to give others a fighting chance. And if that isn’t a record worth celebrating, what is?
