Husband Of Slain Officer Struggles Raising Newborn Baby, Then Gets a 32-Pound Delivery
A heartbreaking tragedy in Palm Springs in October 2016 prompted an extraordinary act of compassion from hundreds of miles away, as a group of California mothers united to help a 4-month-old baby whose police officer mother was killed in the line of duty.
Lesley Zerebny, 27, was fatally shot on Oct. 8 while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Two fellow officers were also wounded during the incident. Zerebny had served with the Palm Springs Police Department for about a year and a half and had only recently returned to work after maternity leave. She left behind her infant daughter, Cora.
In the days following the shooting, news of the family’s loss spread quickly, touching people well beyond Southern California. On Oct. 11, more than 500 ounces of donated breast milk arrived for Zerebny’s family. The milk, collected by a group of women from Northern California’s Monterey area, was intended to help nourish Cora during an unimaginably difficult time. Before being provided to the baby, the donations were set to be screened and tested to ensure safety.
The effort began with a single act of concern. A woman identified only as Ashley saw a message online asking for prayers for the family and wondered if donated breast milk might help. After confirming that it could, she reached out to other mothers. Within just one day, volunteers had gathered roughly a month’s supply, carefully packed it into coolers, and arranged for delivery.
Ashley described her motivation simply, saying she “just wanted to do a good thing in a bad situation.” Her gesture quickly grew into a collective show of support, demonstrating how strangers can come together to provide comfort amid loss.
As the community mourned the fallen officers, this outpouring of care offered a small measure of relief to a grieving family and highlighted the power of compassion in the face of violence.