21 Comments
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Manuela Thiess Garcia's avatar

Thanks, Peter. A very poignant awakening. A disconcerting step back in time.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thank you Manuela for your thoughtful comment. There’s a background of politics and religion that is difficult to change. One is sometimes left picking up the pieces.

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Jewish Grandmother's avatar

A moving, and difficult story. Thank you for making her feel less guilty and afraid.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thanks Amy for reading! Sadly, the difficulties surrounding health care are so often compounded for women.

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Mary Jordan's avatar

A poignant tale... beautifully and succinctly written. thank you.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thank you, Mary. There have been many poignant lessons in my practice in Africa and elsewhere overseas, and in North America as well. I look forward to sharing more in future posts.

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Kathleen Vipond's avatar

Peter, this story is so well told that I felt sorrow, and then delight that you were there to affirm her choice. You have been a savior to so many people.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thanks Kathleen, I'm glad if I was able to communicate some of the emotion I feel when a woman with seven children must endure such danger, and shame, in order to have a needed sterilization.

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Curtis Kay's avatar

Who said beautifully told story brought me to tears.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thanks Kay for reading! I'm glad this story touched you meaningfully.

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Jimmy Sebulime's avatar

I enjoyed reading this Peter and i thank you for sharing.

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Carolyn Swadron's avatar

Thank you for this poignant reminder of how lucky we are and how much more needs to be done.

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Carol's avatar

Thank you for your story...opens a window on a world. As has been said, a moving and difficult story, but valuable to hear. Thank you for bringing kindness to a vulnerable person.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thanks for your comment, Carol. Opening windows on worlds is certainly part of what I would like to do!

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Richard Gorman's avatar

Peter

This is a story well told, but too painful for words

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thanks very much Richard for your response. I think our eyes glaze over with the kind of statistics that I’ve presented, while the illustrative story of a single individual can speak to us directly and profoundly.

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Richard Wells's avatar

Hi Peter. these are the stories you're so good at writing. They're well set down, and full of heart. For some reason you've been sent to my "promotions" folder. Have to rectify that so I don't miss them. Write On!

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Louise Roberge's avatar

Peter,

I can feel all the emotions, thank you

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Peter Newman's avatar

Hello Louise, I glad the emotions in the story reached you. Living in North America it is startling to contemplate the death rate in young children in sub-Saharan Africa, and the dangers in having a simple sterilization procedure.

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Jill Solnicki's avatar

A moving and beautifully told story, Peter, that encapsulates so much.

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Peter Newman's avatar

Thank you, Jill, I'm glad you find it encapsulates so much. There is a great deal that goes into creating a system where children die in such numbers, and where in order to have a sterilization, women must endure such shame and risk.

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