A woman’s Internet friends are a village helping to raise her child after she unexpectedly died this month.

Kristen Leese, 29, of Greenville Twp. suffered a brain aneurysm and died at a hospital March 14. She leaves behind 8-month-old Gemma and her husband, Ryan Leese.

“She is the light of our life here,” grandfather Paul Ricci said. “She’s an adorable little girl.”

Kristen and Ryan were married five years and Gemma is their only child.

Leese was part of an Internet-based group she formed to promote the benefits of breastfeeding. Members believe she would have wanted Gemma to continue being fed with breast milk.

Leese’s family said following the mother’s death, Gemma was reacting negatively to formula with a rash and vomiting.

The women began shipping their donated milk to the family from throughout the United States.

Samantha Sutliffe of New York has a child the same age as Gemma and is one of the donors.

“It was a weird feeling because I haven’t met her but I felt like one of my best friends had suffered an aneurysm,” Sutliffe said. “We just rallied together and prayed for her and asked all our families to pray for her and her family.”

Gemma’s rash was gone by the third bottle of donated milk, according to family members.

Twenty women are donating weekly and will be aiding Gemma until she’s 1. Each is able to ship about six-days worth of milk at a time, paying $100 for each shipment which includes dry ice.

Those wishing to help may find more information at www.youcaring.com/other/Breastmilk-For-Gemma/48438.