7, Nov. 2007

This is a letter to all of you who have cared enough to support Bumi Sehat.  I send it via Bruce Grady, for I have no other way to find you….  I apologize for it coming so late. 

My prayer tonight is that we have spent your money well supporting the Tsunami Relief Clinic in Aceh and the Bali Birth Center.  And as I thank you I wish to share with you just a little of our day to day reality at Bumi Sehat.  I am just home now from receiving a baby boy into the world.  And earlier today there was yet another new baby born gently into my hands.  These two boys, with today as their birthday, are born very poor.  Yet, I believe that at Bumi Sehat we have given them a chance to reach the stars… because, born with us they have not suffered separation, abandonment, or birth trauma.  This means that they will have an intact capacity to love. Baby by baby this is my plan for world peace.

            Two days ago I returned from Italy. Last year we were awarded the Alexander Langer International Peace award.  The new child of Alex Langer's dream of peace, and my love for women and babies has been the publication of my first book, After the Baby's Birth, in Italian.  In Italy I spoke with the congress of midwives and OBGyNs, nearly 400 of them. I spoke at the Italian Senate in a forum open to the public.  I spoke at birth centers and bookstores, on radio and television. I spoke at the XXII Congress of Non-violence.  I spoke of Mothers, Babies, birth, breastfeeding, the environment and peace… how they are all profoundly related.

            Along with my friend, Senator Tiziana Valpiana, and many friends in Italy, we planted seeds of change.

                        *The Italian government is now considering increasing the maternity leave of mothers from 3 months with full pay to 6 months with full pay.  This is due to the fact that WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, for maximum health of every child.

                        *Beginning with Tuscany and with prayers, all Italy will support gentler birth by paying for home birth, when it is the woman and her family's choice. 

                        *The midwives and OBGYNs, along with activists for peace, are organizing to improve hospital protocol, allowing babies one to three hours before cutting their umbilical cords.  New research at UC Davis has demonstrated higher levels of iron in babies whose cord cutting has been delayed, even 2 minutes, at three months, six months and one year of age.  Being left intact, so that baby receives his or her full blood supply prevents trauma while increasing the individual's health and intelligence.

These baby steps being taken in Italy are just the beginning of a revolution in love.  All of us are concerned about global warming, and well we must be.  How are we to stop the violence being done to one another and to our very Earth Mother?  My only answer is that we must reinvent ourselves.  Our planet can no longer tolerate so many people, with an impaired ability for love and compassion living on it. 

            As each of us heals we find the heart to look for everyday solutions.  At Bumi Sehat we bring babies into the world with an intact ability to love. We teach non-violence in word, deed and example.  We recycle, teach and sponsor village wide recycling.  Currently the Bumi Youth Center has 90 English language students per semester, and 36 computer skills students per term.  For these marginalized kids, many of their families have lost income due to the terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, it is a chance for a brighter future. 

            Our other projects offer relief from suffering using natural medicine methods, Traditional Chinese medicine, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Cranial Sacral therapy, Reiki, meditation, traditional massage, aromas, herbs and healing instruments.  In Aceh along with our Maternal Health and Child survival project we do general medicine, trauma relief, networking with the communities, to help them get the aid in reconstruction they desperately need. We provide ambulance transport to a larger medical center when needed.  We include people of all faiths and cultures. 

            I wish each of you could hold one the handicapped children Dr. Soma treats weekly, and experience the joy of an improved quality of life.  Before finding Bumi Sehat there was no hope for most of these children. 

            And so… please accept my gratitude for the partnership in service we share.  I pledge to continue to do my best as a midwife, as a pilgrim working day by day for a piece of peace.  In a few days I depart again for the Bumi Tsunami Relief Clinic in Aceh. The road to healing there is long and steep.  We will keep climbing that road toward the healing of Aceh, as long as we have partners like you.

OM Shanti… Thank you,