It’s been seven years since a photograph of Argentine police officer Celeste Ayala breastfeeding a malnourished infant while on duty captured global attention.
Though the moment passed in real time, its legacy continues to inspire, reminding the world of the quiet power of compassion in uniform.
On August 14, 2018—Argentina’s National Day of the Female Officer—Ayala was stationed at Sor María Ludovica Children’s Hospital near Buenos Aires when she heard a baby crying.
The child, reportedly one of six malnourished siblings, had recently been removed from his mother’s care. Ayala quickly sought permission from hospital staff, then cradled the infant and began breastfeeding him.
“I noticed that he was hungry, as he was putting his hand into his mouth,” Ayala told local outlet Crónica at the time. “It was a sad moment—it broke my soul seeing him like this.”
Fellow officer Marcos Heredia, moved by the scene, shared a photo of Ayala on Facebook, writing:
“I want to make public this great gesture of love… You did not care if he was dirty or smelly … Things like that are not seen every day.”
The post was shared over 100,000 times, turning Ayala into a symbol of maternal care and moral courage.
Ayala’s selfless gesture resonated far beyond Argentina. Local media, international outlets, and child welfare advocates hailed her compassion in the face of hardship. In response, Buenos Aires provincial officials promoted her from officer to sergeant.
Cristian Ritondo, then-Minister of Security, publicly acknowledged her service, saying:
“We wanted to thank you in person for that gesture of spontaneous love that managed to calm the baby’s cry. That’s the type of police we’re proud of—the police we want.”
Ayala, who also volunteered as a firefighter, received praise from her local fire department as well:
“Actions like this fill us with pride.”
Though the headlines have long faded, Ayala’s moment of grace remains etched in public memory.
