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    Corine Gatti-Santillo

    Maryland mom of 4 kids, including 10-month-old twins, is desperate for baby formula

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    A Maryland mom of four children, including 10-month-old twins, is having a heck of a time finding baby formula for her little ones — and she’s really, really angry at the Biden administration right now.

    Kayla Zurenko and her husband, Cody, of Calvert County, Maryland, have four children — 7-year-old Gavin, 5-year-old Grayson and 10-month-old twins named Gabriella and Gannon. 

    “Where am I going to find formula?”

    “I have enough formula for two babies for 14 days,” she told Fox News Digital about her current supply. “Where am I going to find formula after that?” she added, becoming upset as she spoke. 

    The couple live about an hour south of Washington, D.C. 

    Husband Cody works for Tesla, while Kayla has been a stay-at-home parent since giving birth to their twins last June. The couple enjoy watching their oldest child play baseball; Kayla Zurenko volunteers at the boys’ school as much as possible.  

    The Zurenko children of Maryland; the older boys are 7 and 5, while the twins are 10 months old.  (Zurenko Family)

    But now, Zurenko has found herself with a new full-time job that she never applied for: searching for baby formula to buy for her children.

    She’s been searching for baby formula in her tri-state area of Maryland, D.C. and Virginia and in recent days has found nothing, literally nothing, she told Fox News Digital in a phone interview this week.

    BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE SENDS TENNESSEE MOM INTO A ‘PANIC’: ‘I BROKE DOWN’

    It wasn’t until after she ordered baby formula online — then received notice that those orders had been canceled — that she took to social media to vent her frustration.

    “This has GOT to be addressed!!!!” Zurenko wrote recently, exasperated. “Raise the gas prices, inflate the food [prices], but give our babies the food they NEED!!!!”

    Kayla Zurenko with her four children — she’s holding her infant twins. “This has GOT to be addressed,” she wrote with exasperation on social media about America’s baby formula shortage. (Zurenko Family)

    “I shouldn’t have to search a tri-STATE area for baby formula,” she added, “and STILL not find any!”

    “My online orders are being canceled, stores are out, with no end in sight,” she also wrote. “This should be TOP priority immediately for every government agency and this joke of an administration! THIS IS SCARY!”   

    In January 2022, Kayla Zurenko came down with COVID-19.

    Up until January, Zurenko had been breastfeeding her twins. 

    She was not familiar with the baby formula shortages that other parents and caregivers had been facing until she couldn’t breastfeed her babies any longer. 

    N.C. FOOD BANK DESCRIBES ‘DEFINITE’ IMPACT OF BABY FOOD SHORTAGE

    That’s because, in January, she came down with COVID-19.

    The Zurenko twins of Maryland. Their parents are searching everywhere to find enough baby formula to feed them.  (Zurenko Family)

    Once she tested positive for the coronavirus, her husband began hunting for baby formula to feed their infants — to no avail. But still, they did not realize the challenges up ahead.

    “I sent him for a curbside order and the order got canceled,” Zurenko told Fox News Digital.

    “We did a curbside order [from] a Target, and he was able to get that one. Then he brought it home and we were fine,” Zurenko said. 

    “And then after four days, I went back to breastfeeding when my milk supply came back up. But I realized that it just never came back to a sustainable level after we had COVID.” 

    Cody and Kayla Zurenko are pictured here. “I just kind of hit a breaking point [this week],” said Kayla Zurenko. “I got really upset … and I was scared.” (Zurenko family)

    Now, Zurenko and her family have joined many American parents in the desperate and ongoing quest for baby formula. And it is clearly taking a toll. 

    During an interview on Tuesday afternoon, Kayla Zurenko broke down in tears. She told Fox News Digital that she feels she is in survival mode to feed her babies.  

    “Is this how it’s looking every single morning when I wake up?”

    “I have enough formula for two babies for 14 days,” she said about her current supply. “Where am I going to find formula after that?” she added, her upset turning to anger.

    “Is this how it’s looking every single morning when I wake up? I just kind of hit a breaking point [on Monday], and I got really upset and I was pissed off. And I was scared.” 

    The Zurenkos with their two oldest, shortly before their twins were born.  (Zurenko Family)

    Zurenko said she’s asked family members in Alabama and in Washington State — plus her stepmom in Florida — to keep checking local stores to see if they have any baby formula and, if so, to ship it to the family. 

    KENTUCKY FAMILY REVEALS THEIR DRAMATIC SEARCH FOR BABY FORMULA

    In the meantime, she and her sister-in-law, Casey, are stopping at any Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS — “no matter where we are” — to try to find formula. 

    “Formula is fundamental for all of us moms who don’t have a choice in the matter.”

    Zurenko also maps out stores for her husband during his workday, just in case there might be formula available on store shelves during his drive to and from work.  

    Yet even if the formula is in stock at certain retailers, supplies per person are often limited.

    One of the Zurenko twins. Mom Kayla Zurenko said she goes into stores, shows pictures of her infant twins to the clerks or managers, and tells them, “Look, I really have two babies.” (Zurenko Family)

    Retailers such as CVS and Walgreens are placing purchase limits on baby formula. 

    Target also has some online product limitations in place. The Minneapolis-based retailer told FOX Business it is closely monitoring the industry-wide supply constraints and working to ensure the product is available. 

    BABY FORMULA PURCHASES ARE LIMITED AT STORES ACROSS U.S.

    “I have to show them pictures of my twins,” Zurenko said, referring to the stores she visits. “I’m like, ‘Look, I really have two babies.’”

    She said she understands the store limits, “but then I feel guilty for essentially hoarding formula. At the same time, it’s terrifying,” she added — referring to the thought of not being able to feed her babies.

    ‘We’re going to have babies that are malnourished’ 

    Zurenko compared today’s baby formula shortage to what happened in the U.S. amid COVID. “It’s going back to the toilet paper shortage, where everybody just started hoarding toilet paper,” she said.

    “Formula is fundamental for all of us moms who don’t have a choice in the matter. And we’re going to have babies that are malnourished.” 

    One of the Zurenko family’s twins. “Gas is overpriced” right now, said Kayla Zurenko. “But it’s available — that is the difference.” (Zurenko Family)

    Everybody’s arguing about gas prices, she said. “And everybody’s arguing about inflation — but at least food and gas are available,” she added. “Gas is way too high and it’s overpriced. But it’s available — that is the difference.” 

    This mom added, “I would almost rather the formula be available and the prices inflated, like everything else in the country right now.”

    PARENTS SEARCH FRANTICALLY FOR HOMEMADE RECIPES FOR BABY FORMULA

    “You know, if we didn’t have gas,” she said, “I bet you the administration or the government or government agencies would be jumping in to fight that battle.”

    “At least if you have no gas, you just sit at home. If you don’t have formula — babies are going to die or be malnourished.” 

    She referenced work that the Ford Motor Company has done in the production of materials to help stop the spread of COVID. (As early as April 2020, Ford said it shipped out 1 million face shields to protect health care workers struggling to find protective equipment, FOX Business reported on April 6, 2020.)

    “That is the kind of outpouring of support and outreach that I believe needs to be taken into consideration with this formula shortage right now,” Zurenko said of those emergency efforts. 

    This spring 2022 image of an almost-zero supply of baby formula at a Target in Upper St. Clair, Penn., tells the story: American families can’t find enough baby formula for their infants right now.  (Fox News Digital)

    “Because it’s worse than having no gas,” she said. “At least if you have no gas, you just sit at home. If you don’t have formula — babies are going to die or be malnourished.” 

    The current baby formula shortage in the U.S. started with COVID-19 supply chain issues. 

    “I just sincerely hope this crisis can be handled with more urgency very soon!”

    Several months ago the situation grew more serious once Abbott Laboratories issued a recall of its Similac product, after reports that a bacterial infection caused two infant deaths, according to earlier reporting by FOX Business. 

    The baby formula shortage in America has scores of parents searching high and low — and online — for enough food to feed their infants.  (The Bleck Family)

    In six different states — Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee — over half the baby formula was sold out during the week starting Sunday, April 24, said Datasembly, a Virginia-based provider of real-time product pricing and assortment data for retailers, as Fox News reported previously. 

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    Kayla Zurenko told Fox News Digital on Tuesday afternoon about the situation, “I just sincerely hope this crisis can be handled with more urgency very soon!”

    Baby formula shortage sends Tennessee mom of 8-month-old into a ‘panic’: ‘I broke down’

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    Wynter Balthrop is the mother of Blakely, an eight-month-old baby girl in Gallatin, Tennessee, which is about 30 miles north Nashville.

    Balthrop is worried about the baby formula shortage across the country right now, she told Fox News Digital. 

    Little Blakely is on Enfamil’s Nutramigen formula — which is a hypoallergenic variety. Nutramigen was and is the only formula that her baby is able to tolerate, Wynter Balthrop told Fox News Digital this weekend. 

    “We went to six different stores and searched and called multiple others as far as three hours away from us.”

    A generic brand has made her baby sick.

    Balthrop said that just recently, she and her husband “went to six different stores and searched and called multiple others as far as three hours away from us — and we were not able to find one can or bottle of her formula.”

    Baby Blakely of Tennessee, with mom Wynter Balthrop. “It just wasn’t fair to her,” said Balthrop, referring to a type of baby formula she was forced to give her daughter when the family couldn’t find the child’s hypoallergenic variety.  (Balthrop Family)

    “I broke down in the car,” she said. 

    “[I was] panicking and sad for my girl because we had enough formula left to make one bottle — and I knew we would have to use the generic formula that hurt her stomach again. And that broke my heart.” 

    “I mean, it just wasn’t fair to her,” said Balthrop. “But we had no other options.”

    “I knew we would have to use the generic formula that hurt her stomach again. And that broke my heart.”

    Grocery-store shelves that once held an abundance of baby formula are now empty, or very nearly so, at many locations across America. 

    In six different states — Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee — over half the baby formula was sold out during the week starting Sunday, April 24, said Datasembly, a Tysons, Virginia-based provider of real-time product pricing and assortment data for retailers. 

    N.C. FOOD BANK DESCRIBES ‘DEFINITE’ IMPACT OF BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE

    “Inflation, supply chain shortages and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility for baby formula,” said founder and CEO Ben Reich in a statement. 

    “We expect to continue to see the baby formula category being dramatically affected by these conditions. Baby formula stock … has been one of the more affected categories so far in 2022, and one that will continue to demonstrate higher than average out-of-stock levels,” he also said.

    Mom Wynter Balthrop (at right), with her husband and baby daughter. “We had no other options” for formula, she told Fox News Digital.   (Jessica Hamblen Huff (Life Through a Lens)/Wynter Balthrop)

    “Thankfully,” said Balthrop, “we were able to find three bottles of ready-to-feed formula in stock at a store a few towns over the next morning — so I rushed to get it.”

    Background on today’s baby formula shortage

    The current baby formula shortage in the U.S. started with COVID-19 supply chain issues. But things escalated several months ago once Abbott Laboratories issued a recall of its Similac product, after reports that a bacterial infection caused two infant deaths, according to previous reporting by FOX Business. 

    Abbott voluntarily recalled one lot of Similac PM 60/40 manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, on Feb. 28. This is in addition to other voluntary recalls of lots of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powder formulas on Feb. 17, according to a company press release.

    Baby formula is offered for sale at a big box store on Jan. 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Baby formula has been in short supply in many stores around the country for several months now.  (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    Wynter Balthrop of Tennessee has begun stockpiling formula to get them through her baby’s first birthday — she doesn’t see any other way. 

    “We are now grabbing every can or ready-to-feed bottle we see,” said Balthrop, “while also trying not to be greedy and leave some for others.”

    “I’ve seen the fear in their eyes [over] the empty shelves at stores.”

    Balthrop said it breaks her heart for those “mamas who aren’t so lucky and for those moms on supplemental programs such as WIC,” referring to the government’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

    She added that those moms are limited in where they can shop because they struggle to afford their child’s formula. She has friends on WIC, she said. 

    “I’ve seen the fear in their eyes [over] the empty shelves at stores, praying that they find [formula] at the next store they go to,” she added.  

    Baby Blakely of Gallatin, Tenn. “My heart breaks for all the mamas out there suffering and panicked from this [baby formula] shortage,” said mom Wynter Balthrop to Fox News Digital.   (Jessica Hamblen Huff (Life Through a Lens); Wynter Balthrop)

    She added, “It’s sad that in today’s world, this is an issue we are having. My heart breaks for all the mamas out there suffering and panicked from this shortage.”

    With many parents desperate to feed their babies, social media posts have been circulating about how to prepare homemade formulas or requests for such recipes. 

    PEDIATRICIAN’S PLEA TO PARENTS: DO NOT MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FORMULA

    But pediatricians and other infant-care specialists warn parents and caregivers against this. 

    They first recommend that moms breastfeed for as long as possible — but beyond that, they share important information and advice. 

    Pediatricians have their say

    Among the tips that Sarah Adams, M.D., FAAP, a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, shared with Fox News Digital on the topic of baby formula are the following:

    Avoid hoarding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises buying no more than a 10-day to 2-week supply of formula.

    Two cans of baby formula are shown here in a home. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says parents should not hoard supplies.  (Fox News Digital)

    Call the doctor. “Call your pediatrician’s office and ask if they can get you a can [of formula] from the local formula representatives,” she said.

    Check with local charities. They might have supplies they can share. 

    KENTUCKY FAMILY REVEALS STRESSFUL SEARCH FOR BABY FORMULA

    Buy formula online. Do make sure, however, urged Dr. Adams, “to purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies and NOT from individually sold [operations], auction sites or overseas!” 

    ‘Homemade formulas can have contaminates’

    “The answer to parents giving homemade formula to their babies is NO! It is very dangerous,” Dr. Meg Meeker, a longtime pediatrician, author and creator of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast, also told Fox News Digital on this issue.

    Amid today’s baby formula shortage, some families have described their “panic” and desperation in finding what they need for their infants.  (The Bleck Family)

    “We know a lot about this because many years ago parents used to make it — but babies got very sick.” 

    She added, “Homemade formulas can have contaminates because they haven’t been properly handled. But more important problems relate to poor nutrition,” she said.

    PARENTS SEARCH FRANTICALLY FOR HOMEMADE BABY FORMULA

    The FDA weighed in on the issue as well. 

    To the question, “Are homemade formulas an alternative” for parents, the FDA answers clearly on its website today: “No. The FDA advises parents and caregivers not to make or feed homemade formula to infants. Homemade infant formula recipes have not been evaluated by the FDA and may lack nutrients vital to an infant’s growth.”

    “I hope and pray daily this shortage gets resolved soon and quickly for the sake of all of the formula-fed babes out there!”

    Also, last year in a press release, the agency said, “The FDA has recently received adverse event reports of hospitalized infants suffering from hypocalcemia (low calcium) that had been fed homemade infant formula.”

    It said there are potential problems with homemade formulas, including contamination and/or “inadequate amounts of critical nutrients” for babies.

    Said Balthrop of Tennessee, “I hope and pray daily this shortage gets resolved soon and quickly for the sake of all the formula-fed babes out there!”

    As of just yesterday — Mother’s Day — Balthrop shared this update with Fox News Digital: “I am still having issues finding formula. I’ve been checking the stores almost daily and haven’t found one [can] of [the baby’s] formula this past week, which is wild!”

    She also said that a Facebook group in her area has been started so that moms can exchange the latest information about formula availability, store details and more.

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    Maureen Mackey of Fox News Digital contributed reporting to this article.  

    Pediatrician’s plea to parents: Do NOT make your own baby formula

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    Today’s worrying shortage of baby formula across the country is not only throwing many parents of young children into a frenzy — it’s bringing attention to the grave risks of using homemade baby formula as a replacement to feed infants.

    In response to queries from Fox News Digital on the issue, Sarah Adams, M.D., FAAP, a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, acknowledged on Friday evening that “parents in my practice are finding it hard to find baby formula,” she said.

    “The shortages [have been] exacerbated by the recall from [formula manufacturer] Abbott [Laboratories] — but it has gotten even worse since then,” she said.

    Said Dr. Adams, “I have been told that due to the recall, [parents] were afraid to use the formula they had, even if it wasn’t one that was recalled.”

    PARENTS SEARCH FRANTICALLY FOR HOMEMADE BABY FORMULA RECIPES

    She added, “And if they do find formula, they worry about the limits of how much formula they can buy at one time … They are calling our office and we are helping them by reaching out to local formula representatives.”

    Many parents are struggling to find enough baby formula to feed for their infants. One pediatrician sounded a warning against homemade varieties. 

    8 important recommendations for parents

    Dr. Adams shared the following important advice and insights for parents, caregivers, grandparents and others with Fox News Digital on the topic of baby formula today for infants. 

    1. Avoid hoarding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises buying no more than a 10-day to 2-week supply of formula.

    2. Call the doctor. “Call your pediatrician’s office and ask if they can get you a can from the local formula representatives,” she said.

    KENTUCKY FAMILY REVEALS THEIR STRESSFUL SEARCH FOR BABY FORMULA

    3. Check with local charities. They might have supplies they can share.

    4. Check with your local WIC office. This is the government program — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). It regularly supplies formula to lower-income families.

    Two cans of baby formula are shown here. An Akron-based pediatrician advised parents to call pediatricians’ offices with baby formula questions.  (Fox News Digital)

    5. Check smaller stores and drug stores. These outlets may have supplies for purchase.

    6. Buy formula online. Do make sure, however, urged Dr. Adams, “to purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies and NOT [from] individually sold [offerings], auction sites or [from] overseas!” 

    7. Make the switch. “Switch to other formula brands or types of formula,” she advised, “but talk to your pediatrician first, especially if your baby must use a hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula.” 

    “Always talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby’s nutrition and feeding your baby.”

    8. Check the shelf life of formula you do have. Make sure it is not on the recall list, advised Dr. Adams. “Do not [throw away] any formula that has not expired or is not on the recall list,” she said. “Use concentrate or ready-to-feed [options], which may be more available.”

    Do not panic

    Dr. Adams, who is with Ohio’s Pediatric Primary Care, Hudson, said it’s important that parents not panic.

    “Always talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby’s nutrition and feeding your baby,” she said. 

    ‘I do NOT recommend making your own formula’

    Dr. Adams was quite clear on this point and all others: “I do NOT recommend making your own formula,” she said about reports that many parents are searching — both online and elsewhere — for homemade recipe alternatives. 

    Milk alternatives are not recommended for infants under one year of age, advised Dr. Sarah Adams of Akron, Ohio, in a message to Fox News Digital. (iStock)

    “The AAP strongly advises against homemade formula,” she said. 

    “These [options] are not safe and not FDA approved — infant deaths have been reported.”

    Other key advice for parents and caregivers

    Dr. Adams shared these critical insights as well.

    Milk alternatives are not recommended for infants under a year of age.

    Do not use almond or other plant-based milks — “they are low in protein and minerals.”

    Do not use toddler formula to feed infants.

    Amid today’s baby formula shortage, parents are searching for alternatives — but beware the urge to concoct any homemade versions.  (The Bleck Family)

    Do not water down the formula — this practice “is dangerous,” she said, “and can lead to poor nutritional balance and serious complications.”

    Do not use formula sold overseas, as mentioned above. 

    BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE SPARKING PANIC AMONG PARENTS

    All of this advice from Dr. Adams of Akron, Ohio, is in line with the input and advice Fox News Digital received this week from other pediatric professionals as well. 

    That includes input from Dr. Meg Meeker, a long-time practicing pediatrician and author, as well as from NYU Langone pediatric nutritionist Nicole Regan. 

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    Medical experts, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), strongly advise against administering homemade formula to infants, as Fox News Digital previously noted. 

    Parents, caregivers, grandparents or others who have questions about baby formula should call their pediatricians’ offices, experts said. 

    Nicole Pelletiere and Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital, as well as Deirdre Reilly, contributed reporting to this article.  

    Bow tie pasta recipe with fresh lemon, basil, garlic — delicious!

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    Need an easy pasta dinner during the week? No need to stress with this no-frills recipe. 

    A simple bow tie pasta incorporated with fresh lemons, fresh basil, butter and Parmesan cheese is a winner as a main course or as a side dish. 

    A selection of healthy, fresh lemons are shown here. Try some fresh lemon juice in this spring pasta dish! (iStock)

    Pair this lemon pasta with baked salmon, grilled chicken or your favorite protein. 

    DELICIOUS AND EASY BRUSSELS SPROUTS DISH — TRY THE RECIPE

    You can also sauté vegetables like fresh green beans, broccoli, kale or spinach for a healthy side. 

    Fresh vegetables like broccoli or the other greens mentioned here can be paired with this delicious pasta dish. (iStock)

    Regardless of the variation, this simple and bright dish will become a family favorite and a regular in the weeknight dinner rotation. 

    Simply lemon-tastic!

    Ingredients

    1 box bow tie pasta

    2 tablespoons olive oil

    1 teaspoon lemon zest

    2 tablespoons lemon juice from fresh lemons

    4 cloves garlic minced

    ½ cup of basil finely chopped

    6 tablespoons of unsalted butter

    ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese shavings

    Salt and pepper to taste

    (serves 6)

    Bow tie pasta is the featured ingredient in the healthy spring recipe noted here. You can pair this lemon pasta with baked salmon, grilled chicken or your favorite protein.  (iStock)

    Instructions

    1. Add one tablespoon of salt to a large pot of water and bring to a boil on high heat.

    2. Cook pasta al dente according to the pasta instructions; reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water. 

    3. Drain pasta. Place the pasta into a bowl.

    4. Next, add olive oil, garlic, basil, and lemon zest to a large skillet on medium heat; cook until garlic is transparent. 

    5. Add butter to the mixture, lemon juice and the reserved pasta water. 

    LEMON CHICKEN SPAGHETTI WITH CREAMY ALFREDO SAUCE — TRY THE RECIPE

    6. Take the mixture and add it to the bowl with the pasta. Add Parmesan cheese and coat the pasta thoroughly.

    7. Salt and pepper to taste. 

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    8. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

    ‘Lucky’ bird: Pennsylvania cockatiel, lost for 3 years, found perched at a church

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    It’s the rare pet bird that’s found safe and sound after it’s been living on its own for a few years — but this is a story with a few surprises and a (mostly) happy ending.

    A cockatiel owned by a family in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, escaped from its home about three years ago and had been missing ever since.

    The workers received a “gift” and it was sitting on the church porch. 

    Recently, a woman working at a church in Lancaster County discovered a cockatiel perched on her church’s property. 

    “I saw that it was a bird. And this bird did not move or fly away,” Louise Duncan, a secretary at Christ United Methodist Church in Lancaster, told Fox News Digital about her discovery.

    This little cockatiel was found at Christ United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “This bird did not move or fly away,” said Louise Duncan, a secretary at the church. (Christ United Methodist Church/Louise Duncan)

    “He just sort of stared at me with his kind of big bird eyes. I saw that the plume was yellow and that he had orange cheeks. And I thought, This has got to be a pet.” 

    Duncan phoned ORCA — the Organization for Responsible Care of Animals — an animal rescue group with a location nearby, to request help. 

    She also took a picture of the bird with her cellphone — and told her pastor, Roseann Goldberg-Taylor of Christ United Methodist Church, that they received a “gift” and it was sitting on the church porch. 

    The bird — clearly used to being free — became frantic, popped open the box and escaped.

    Pastor Goldberg-Taylor corralled the bird into a box and put a lid on it. 

    But the bird — clearly used to being free — became frantic, popped open the box and escaped, they said. 

    When an ORCA rescue worker arrived at the church to help out, the worker was able to get the bird into a safe container. ORCA took the bird back to its location to see about reuniting it with its owners. 

    “We call it a blessing,” Pastor Goldberg-Taylor said of the experience. “We help all God’s creatures at United Methodist Church.”

    She added, “Anybody is welcomed at our church, even a cockatiel.”

    To confirm the bird’s identity, the family suggested the bird hear the theme song from the ’60s TV show, “The Andy Griffith Show” — the bird had always loved that tune.

    Once ORCA put a picture of the bird on Facebook, a response soon came in from a family in Ephrata, some 15 miles away from the church.

    They said their beloved cockatiel, Lucky, had escaped from their home three years ago — and that this bird might be theirs. They sent pictures of Lucky to Orca. 

    To confirm the bird’s identity, the family suggested the bird hear the theme song from the 1960s television show, “The Andy Griffith Show” — the bird had loved that tune. 

    Sure enough, when the cockatiel heard the tune, it began dancing and whistling.

    So this was Lucky — a bird that loved to dance and whistle.

    And somehow, ever since it had gone missing, it had survived — on a wing and a prayer. 

    “To know Lucky’s family truly cared [about him] was great to hear,” ORCA rescue worker Libby Rannels told Fox News Digital. 

    “And on top of that, it was pretty unbelievable he made it three years, wherever he was. We are just happy he is safe.”

    “He has been through a lot for the past few years, and we really just want to give him some stability and consistency. He will be very loved here with us.”

    Lucky’s original family cannot take him back at this time. Fox News Digital reached out to the family for comment.

    As ORCA’s staff wrote on its Facebook page, “Sometimes the stories don’t end EXACTLY how we hoped, but we still believe it’s a happy ending.” 

    LOST DOG REUNITED WITH OWNER AFTER A WEEK IN A SNOW

    They added, “Lucky’s family ultimately decided that they were unable to keep him, and we now have him in our office again. We are thankful they care about him so much that they made this very difficult decision.”

    “Our ORCA staff has decided that we are going to keep Lucky as our office pet. He has been through a lot for the past few years, and we really just want to give him some stability and consistency,” the group also wrote. “He will be very loved here with us.”

    STUDY SHOWS THE EFFECT OWNING PETS HAS ON OWNERS’ BRAINS

    Louise Duncan of Christ United Methodist Church found the experience to be a teachable moment, she said.

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    “I’ve always been one to want to find a good ending to something difficult for something or somebody, like a pet or a person. And [this experience] reinforces the need to never stop doing that,” she said.

    Deviled eggs with smoked paprika: You’ll relish this recipe this spring

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    It’s the rare person who doesn’t enjoy the delicious chilled treat of deviled eggs, either as an appetizer or as a side dish at parties and gatherings.

    But first, a little interesting history about the hard-boiled deviled egg recipe. 

    Deviled egg recipes appeared as early as the 13th century, when eggs were stuffed with cheese, oils, raisins, saffron and other herbs, according to the North Carolina Egg Association.  

    This recipe is sure to send taste buds to heaven in this “devilishly” popular dish.

    The deviled egg recipe spread throughout 15th-century Europe and landed in America during the 19th century, the South Florida Reporter and others noted. The recipe also varies depending on location, pointed out Ancestral Findings. 

    The deviled egg recipe featured in this article is what many Americans are familiar with today. Deviled eggs withstand the test of time — and remain a go-to recipe during almost any social gathering.  (Incredible Egg for the American Egg Board)

    In the U.K., the dish is known as deviled eggs, as they are here. 

    Yet in other parts of the world, they may be known as dressed eggs, eggs mimosa, stuffed eggs — even angel eggs. 

    AMERICA’S EGG FARMERS WERE KEY TO FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN’S NEW COMMEMORATIVE EGG AND EASTER EGG ROLL

    The recipe featured in this article is what many Americans are familiar with today. (Back in 1786, to “devil” a food meant to cook it with a spicy seasoning or over very high heat, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It was thought that this association grew from the similarly high heat presumed from the depths of hell, The Daily Meal reported.)

    This appetizer recipe is made with mayonnaise, spicy mustard and a pinch of smoked paprika that is sure to send taste buds to heaven in this “devilishly” popular dish.

    A selection of delicious deviled eggs are shown here — keep this recipe handy for your next gathering or event! (iStock)

    Deviled eggs withstand the test of time and remain a go-to recipe during almost any social gathering. Be sure to keep this recipe handy for your next event.

    Ingredients 

    6 large eggs  

    3 tablespoons mayonnaise  

    ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

    1/8 teaspoon black pepper  

    Pinch of smoked paprika (for dusting) 

    Sprigs of baby dill (for garnish) 

    1 tablespoon white vinegar (for your water — read on!)

    (Makes 12 servings) 

    Put your eggs into a pot of cold water — then bring the water to a boil.  (AP)

    Instructions

    1. Place your eggs into a pot of cold water (taking care to cover every egg with water) and bring it to a boil, adding tablespoon of white vinegar (it makes peeling the shells off the eggs easier). 

    2. Boil the eggs for 13 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath for your eggs; set aside. 

    3. Remove eggs from boiling water; add to the ice-water bath until chilled. 

    4. Once cooled, peel carefully. Slice eggs in half lengthwise; remove yolks and set whites aside. 

    5. In a bowl, mash the yolks with a fork until smooth. 

    Fresh hard-boiled eggs are shown here. Make sure to mash the cooked yolks until they’re smooth. 

    6. Add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, black pepper (or red pepper flakes — your choice). 

    7. Evenly insert the creamy mixture into the cooked egg whites. (Some people use a piping bag to insert the mixture just so. Up to you.)

    8. Dust with smoked paprika; add sprig of baby dill for garnish. 

    9. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

    10. Serve on a platter (consider lining it first with a bed of lettuce — your choice). 

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    Take a bite — and enjoy!

    Banana bread recipe offers a delicious morning treat (or at any time of day)

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Going bananas? Don’t sweat it.

    This delicious banana bread recipe is here to save the day.

    And if your bananas are looking a little ripe, you’ve got an ever better reason to make this wonderful banana bread. 

    Bananas are the star of the delicious banana bread recipe featured here — a wonderful treat for mornings or at any time of day.  (iStock)

    You can transform them into a delightful and sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea in the morning (or at any time of day).

    This banana bread is comforting and comes with an extra kick of cinnamon — it’s quite the star. 

    Cinnamon is central to this amazing banana bread recipe. (Did you know that recent research indicates that merely smelling cinnamon can enhance cognitive processing?) (iStock)

    Ingredients

    4-5 ripe bananas (medium) 

    ⅓ cup butter melted

    ¾ cup sugar 

    1 egg

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1 tablespoon (or ½ a tablespoon — your choice!) of ground cinnamon 

    ⅓ teaspoon nutmeg

    1 ½ cups flour

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    Pinch of salt

    (Makes 10 servings)

    There is just nothing like a freshly baked loaf of banana bread.  

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

    2. Prepare a 9×5 loaf pan and grease with butter or nonstick cooking spray.

    3. Mash bananas.

    4. Mix melted butter and sugar; add bananas. 

    5. Add the egg and vanilla extract.

    MAC AND CHEESE: AMERICA’S ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD, GETS A DELICIOUS NEW SPIN

    6. Mix in dry ingredients: cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and flour; then add wet ingredients and mix well.  

    7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

    8. Bake for about 40 minutes. Oven times may vary. 

    You can slice your banana bread to your desired thickness, of course — and as a healthy bonus, serve with fresh fruit on the side. Also, warm up any leftover slices the next day in the microwave.  (iStock)

    Insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, your banana bread done. If it comes out sticky or damp, it needs more time.

    Remove from oven, completely cool and move it to a dish. 

    Slice and enjoy with your favorite beverage. 

    As a healthy bonus, serve with fresh berries. 

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    You can also warm any leftover slices in the microwave the next day as needed.  

    Spring cheesecake with berries: Fabulous dessert without heaps of guilt

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Spring is here and that means fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries — any or all of which are perfect for a cheesecake topping.

    There is no doubt that cheesecake is one of the world’s richest, creamiest and most cherished desserts ever (made with cream cheese, ricotta or both, in the case of the delicious recipe below). 

    Berry-topped spring cheesecake is worth enjoying with others — or by yourself after a stressful or long day.

    And if watching your waistline is important before hitting the beach this summer, fear not. 

    Fresh strawberries like these make a fabulous topping for the spring cheesecake recipe featured here. 

    There are lower-fat ingredient options here, so that everyone can appreciate this fabulous dessert without too much guilt.

    Either way, berry-topped spring cheesecake is worth enjoying with others — or by yourself after a stressful or long day.

    This lovely slice of cheesecake shows off touches of strawberry and raspberry on top — the swirl effect is always an option, too. 

    Ingredients

    10 graham crackers for the crust

    4 tablespoons butter (or reduced-fat butter)

    2 tablespoons brown sugar

    1/8 teaspoon salt

    2 packages softened cream cheese or fat-free cream cheese (8 ounces each) 

    1 container (15 ounces) of ricotta cheese (part skim milk)

    2 tablespoons cornstarch

    1 ¼ cups granulated sugar (powdered sweetener)

    5 large eggs

    1 cup light cream 

    1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

    2 pounds strawberries or any other seasonal-favorite berries

    (Makes 16 servings)

    Use graham crackers for your crust in this recipe — and any whipped cream (as shown on this slice here) is totally up to you. (Thinkstock)

    There is no doubt that cheesecake is one of the world’s richest, creamiest and most cherished desserts ever (made with cream cheese, ricotta or both — in the case of the delicious recipe below).  (iStock)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

    2. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and wrap the outside with heavy-duty foil to prevent the batter from leaking during baking.

    3. Pulse in a food processor graham crackers, butter, salt and brown sugar until combined. Transfer to the springform pan and press the mixture into the bottom of the pan evenly. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool completely. Reset oven to 325 degrees F.

    4. In a food processor, add ricotta, cream cheese, granulated sugar and cornstarch. Pulse until smooth. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and light cream together; add to the ricotta mixture. Pour into cooled crust. Bake for 1 hour. 

    5. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake remain in the oven for 1 hour. Run a knife around the edge of the pan as soon as the cheesecake comes out of the oven to prevent cracks.

    MAC AND CHEESE: AMERICA’S ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD, GETS A DELICIOUS NEW SPIN

    6. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool for 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.

    7. In a large bowl, add berries and leftover sugar; coat well. Set aside to decorate the cheesecake. 

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    8. To serve, remove foil and place on a cake plate; arrange berries on the cheesecake as you choose. Then — slice, dig in and enjoy!

    On Gold Star Spouses Day, a time to remember, support military families

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Gold Star Spouses Day is today, Tuesday, April 5. It honors the loved ones of U.S. military members who have lost their lives; it acknowledges and remembers the spouses who have stood behind our military members.

    Originally called Gold Star Wives Day when it was founded in 1945, the day of remembrance is known now as Gold Star Spouses Day, though some still use the names interchangeably.

    “You lose the love of your life, it’s hard to put one step in front of another.”

    Tamra Sipes, national president of Gold Star Wives of America, a nonprofit service organization, is the surviving spouse of Navy SAR Corpsman Robert Sipes. He died in October 1995 in a house fire at age 34. She was only 28, with three small children, when she was widowed.

    “You lose the love of your life, it’s hard to put one step in front of another,” Sipes told Fox News Digital in a phone interview. 

    Bob Sipes passed away in 1995. He served for 10 years in the Navy as a search and rescue corpsman, with over 50 missions completed. He left behind a wife and three children.  (Tamra Sipes)

    “And it’s week by week. And the first year. It’s like a blur. [But] you just move forward,” she added. 

    Robert Sipes served for 10 years in the Navy as a search and rescue corpsman, with over 50 missions completed. He was stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in Washington state. 

    PATRIOTIC FATHER-SON DUE GIVE BACK TO AMERICA’S VETERANS

    After his death, Tamra Sipes, who is based in Washington state to this day, kept food on the table by working in the hospitality industry, she said.

    Sipes was stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in Washington state, his widow, Tamra Sipes, shared with Fox News Digital. (Tamra Sipes)

    Her son Steven Sipes, 35, is today in the Navy Reserves as a Seabee. He joined the military when he was 19; he spent almost a year in Afghanistan in 2010.  

    Since 2015, Tamra Sipes has been an active member of Gold Star Spouses. She also began volunteering with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS; taps.org) in 2017.

    “Eventually, you start to move through [the grief and the loss] — then you want to help others,” she said. 

    Tamra Sipes (second from right) of Washington state, along with her three children, (from left) Jessica, Steven and David, in a family photo from 2008.  (Tamra Sipes)

    Sipes said that the Gold Star Wives group “is here for anyone who has lost a loved one, whether it was over in theater, whether it was here as an accident, whether it was during training or in combat, or whether it was a service-connected illness years later.”

    Among its goals: Gold Star Wives is fighting to enhance and improve the financial benefits for U.S military spouses and families today.

    GOLD STAR FAMILIES WANT NATIONAL MALL MEMORIAL

    Referring to an earlier period of time, Sipes said of the benefits given to spouses years ago, “I think [people received] a $10,000 check. It was, ‘Good luck, God bless, please move out of any base housing, you’ve got 30 days,'” she added, recounting what spouses were apparently once told. 

    “This has changed in the last 10 years,” she added. 

    Tamra Sipes (at right) and another Gold Star Wife are shown laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on Veterans Day in 2021.  (Tamra Sipes)

    One issue that surfaced in the past was around the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Survivors did not receive the full amount from those funds, said Sipes.

    Recently, Congress enacted changes; as a result, in 2023, the offset in annuity payments from the SBP for surviving spouses will be eliminated for those who are also receiving DIC benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

    There is so much more work to be done on behalf of these families, said Tamra Sipes. That is why, she emphasized, “every voice counts.”

    Sipes credited her organization, as well as supporters such as Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., for pushing for changes to help surviving family members. 

    Gold Star Wives of America also advocated for a Gold Star Children’s Day, to recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices and the existence of the children of fallen service members. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced a resolution to designate August 1 as such.

    “We’re trying to help this generation,” said Tamra Sipes of the Gold Star Wives nonprofit organization. 

    Yet another win was a change to the Remarriage Penalty. The DIC remarriage age has now gone from 57 to 55, which aligns it with other federal survivor programs, as Gold Star Wives notes on its website (goldstarwives.org). 

    ‘New generation coming along’

    Many surviving spouses of deceased military are from the Vietnam era of military service, Sipes indicated; many are living on little more than a Social Security check and their DIC payment. 

    “We’re trying to help this generation,” said Sipes.

    Tamra Sipes’ son, Steven, is shown here in Afghanistan in 2010.  (Tamra Sipes)

    “Then you have a new generation that’s coming [along], which has larger benefits when they lose someone,” she said. 

    She said this group often benefits from orientation and education about how to maintain the benefits for themselves and their families, “to invest or whatever else they need to do” to maintain their family’s security, she said.

    Gold Star Wives is fighting to enhance and improve the financial benefits for U.S military spouses and families today.

    There is so much more work to be done on behalf of these families, she said. That is why, she emphasized, “every voice counts.”

    She urged all Americans to contact their elected leaders in Congress. 

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “It is one letter at a time, one email at a time” that makes a difference, she said. “It takes everybody doing that in order to be heard — a small army.”

    On Gold Star Spouses Day, a time to remember, support military families

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Gold Star Spouses Day is today, Tuesday, April 5. It honors the loved ones of U.S. military members who have lost their lives; it acknowledges and remembers the spouses who have stood behind our military members.

    Originally called Gold Star Wives Day when it was founded in 1945, the day of remembrance is known now as Gold Star Spouses Day, though some still use the names interchangeably.

    “You lose the love of your life, it’s hard to put one step in front of another.”

    Tamra Sipes, national president of Gold Star Wives of America, a nonprofit service organization, is the surviving spouse of Navy SAR Corpsman Robert Sipes. He died in October 1995 in a house fire at age 34. She was only 28, with three small children, when she was widowed.

    “You lose the love of your life, it’s hard to put one step in front of another,” Sipes told Fox News Digital in a phone interview. 

    Bob Sipes passed away in 1995. He served for 10 years in the Navy as a search and rescue corpsman, with over 50 missions completed. He left behind a wife and three children.  (Tamra Sipes)

    “And it’s week by week. And the first year. It’s like a blur. [But] you just move forward,” she added. 

    Robert Sipes served for 10 years in the Navy as a search and rescue corpsman, with over 50 missions completed. He was stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in Washington state. 

    PATRIOTIC FATHER-SON DUE GIVE BACK TO AMERICA’S VETERANS

    After his death, Tamra Sipes, who is based in Washington state to this day, kept food on the table by working in the hospitality industry, she said.

    Sipes was stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in Washington state, his widow, Tamra Sipes, shared with Fox News Digital. (Tamra Sipes)

    Her son Steven Sipes, 35, is today in the Navy Reserves as a Seabee. He joined the military when he was 19; he spent almost a year in Afghanistan in 2010.  

    Since 2015, Tamra Sipes has been an active member of Gold Star Spouses. She also began volunteering with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS; taps.org) in 2017.

    “Eventually, you start to move through [the grief and the loss] — then you want to help others,” she said. 

    Tamra Sipes (second from right) of Washington state, along with her three children, (from left) Jessica, Steven and David, in a family photo from 2008.  (Tamra Sipes)

    Sipes said that the Gold Star Wives group “is here for anyone who has lost a loved one, whether it was over in theater, whether it was here as an accident, whether it was during training or in combat, or whether it was a service-connected illness years later.”

    Among its goals: Gold Star Wives is fighting to enhance and improve the financial benefits for U.S military spouses and families today.

    GOLD STAR FAMILIES WANT NATIONAL MALL MEMORIAL

    Referring to an earlier period of time, Sipes said of the benefits given to spouses years ago, “I think [people received] a $10,000 check. It was, ‘Good luck, God bless, please move out of any base housing, you’ve got 30 days,'” she added, recounting what spouses were apparently once told. 

    “This has changed in the last 10 years,” she added. 

    Tamra Sipes (at right) and another Gold Star Wife are shown laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on Veterans Day in 2021.  (Tamra Sipes)

    One issue that surfaced in the past was around the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Survivors did not receive the full amount from those funds, said Sipes.

    Recently, Congress enacted changes; as a result, in 2023, the offset in annuity payments from the SBP for surviving spouses will be eliminated for those who are also receiving DIC benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

    There is so much more work to be done on behalf of these families, said Tamra Sipes. That is why, she emphasized, “every voice counts.”

    Sipes credited her organization, as well as supporters such as Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., for pushing for changes to help surviving family members. 

    Gold Star Wives of America also advocated for a Gold Star Children’s Day, to recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices and the existence of the children of fallen service members. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced a resolution to designate August 1 as such.

    “We’re trying to help this generation,” said Tamra Sipes of the Gold Star Wives nonprofit organization. 

    Yet another win was a change to the Remarriage Penalty. The DIC remarriage age has now gone from 57 to 55, which aligns it with other federal survivor programs, as Gold Star Wives notes on its website (goldstarwives.org). 

    ‘New generation coming along’

    Many surviving spouses of deceased military are from the Vietnam era of military service, Sipes indicated; many are living on little more than a Social Security check and their DIC payment. 

    “We’re trying to help this generation,” said Sipes.

    Tamra Sipes’ son, Steven, is shown here in Afghanistan in 2010.  (Tamra Sipes)

    “Then you have a new generation that’s coming [along], which has larger benefits when they lose someone,” she said. 

    She said this group often benefits from orientation and education about how to maintain the benefits for themselves and their families, “to invest or whatever else they need to do” to maintain their family’s security, she said.

    Gold Star Wives is fighting to enhance and improve the financial benefits for U.S military spouses and families today.

    There is so much more work to be done on behalf of these families, she said. That is why, she emphasized, “every voice counts.”

    She urged all Americans to contact their elected leaders in Congress. 

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “It is one letter at a time, one email at a time” that makes a difference, she said. “It takes everybody doing that in order to be heard — a small army.”