Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
From CMMB: World Water Week
Gina and her two-year old daughter Bentayida.
Clean,
running water is something most of us take for granted. Imagine if your
nearest water source was miles away? What if, upon finally arriving
there, you discovered that the water was dirty? Without any other
options, the only choice would be to bring it home to your family and
hope for the best as you gave it to your thirsty children.
Today, during
World Water Week, I want to tell you about a family who is sadly
incomplete due to their lack of access to clean water. Last year, they
lost their four-year-old son, Widerson, to a severe case of diarrhea and
dehydration. This is a heart-breaking reality that many face in
Côtes-de-Fer, a remote, rural, and hilly area in southeastern Haiti.
The poverty in this community is pervasive. Gina, her husband and her
three daughters live in a house made of wood slats and palm, the
cheapest building material available. The family gets water down at the
river where they also bathe and wash clothes. It’s a 90-minute walk away
and difficult to get to. Since there are no latrines, the river is
contaminated by waste from humans and animals. When they can’t make the
trip, they rely on a neighbor who has a large plastic cistern to collect
rain water. When their son, Widerson, got sick, the family was not
using any water purification tablets. Now, when they can get free water
purification tablets from CMMB, they use them. With extremely limited
access to water of any kind, there is not much hand washing and a lot of
opportunity for additional contamination.
Water purification tablets.
Widerson
was severely ill with diarrhea and dehydration when the family was
finally able to bring him to the nearest healthcare facility in Gris
Gris. He was evaluated and given medication, but tragically died on the
way back home. He didn’t live long enough to start treatment. Gina's
two-year old daughter, Bentayida, also gets diarrhea frequently. The
parents know they should purify the water, but the tablets aren't always
available.
Without access to clean water, Bentayida and her four-month-old sister
are also at risk of becoming severely dehydrated or contracting a deadly
illness like cholera. Women and children living in extreme poverty
suffer the most from unsafe water, which is the leading cause of disease
and death around the world. With your support, we’re working to change
this reality for the most vulnerable. And during our Summer Match Campaign, every donation of $100, $200, $500, or any amount is matched dollar-for-dollar. Don’t wait.Double your donation by giving now.
