Celeste Ayala, an Argentine police officer, was promoted after breastfeeding a starving, abandoned baby on duty in 2016. The baby had been left at a hospital because his mother couldn’t afford to feed him. Upon hearing the heartbreaking news, Ayala immediately took action without hesitation, holding the infant in her arms and breastfeeding him, despite the child being described as “dirty” by the hospital staff. A colleague took a photo of the touching moment, which quickly went viral on social media.
The photo garnered attention far and wide, with Ayala’s selfless act of compassion and kindness inspiring many. Her story spread quickly, drawing praise from the public and colleagues alike. When Ayala’s superiors caught wind of her bravery, they called her into their office, where they recognized her for going above and beyond the call of duty. Her boss informed her of her promotion, acknowledging her as the type of officer they were proud of and wanted to represent their department. Ayala’s story became a powerful reminder of the impact one kind and empathetic action can have on a community.