Growing Up in a Violent Environment

As a child, we lived with my grandmother. My childhood was normal and I did things that every child would do. My mother had a brother that lived about 2 miles down the road from us. He had a drinking problem. There  were times when he would get on a drinking binge and come to our house and tear up the place. He would be out with friends and get into arguments and come to our house. My grandmother would try to talk to him and tell him he needed help, but he would go into a rage. He would throw furniture, throw things through the windows. Basically he would break things that were not nailed down. My grandmother would tell us to go to the neighbor’s house to hide. Finally, my grandmother called the police on him. It was one of the hardest things I think she ever had to do. Although she didn’t press charges, he did spend a few days in jail. He attended some AA classes. It was calm for a while, but the drinking started back. He came to my grandmother’s house each time, but after she called the police he thought twice about breaking her things. Most of my childhood memories about him (until the age of 9) were about the same. Eventually he enrolled himself in counseling and got the help that he needed. I made a promise to myself that in my adult life I would not involve myself with anyone that drank alcohol. I kept that promise to myself and my children. I still see my uncle from time to time and he still takes a drink once in a while. When I see him or anyone else going beyond their limits, I remove myself from the situation. Have I ever drank? Yes, but during dinner or special occasions. Do I make it a habit during those times? No.

Children in Afghanistan

Children in Afghanistan have to endure so much violence. A lot of them have to grow up without their parents, they are homeless, hungry, and they may even have to fight for survival. They have to do whatever it takes to survive. They are enslaved by their own country. The Cooperation Center for Afghanistan (CCA) helps children that were a victim of violence. The CCA can’t do it alone. It takes the support of the parents, politicians and other organizations.

References: Violence against children tackled in Afghanistan. Retrieved from http://www.icco.n/en/projects&project=753

 

 

Immunization

 

Immunizations are meaningful to me because without them I think that life as I know it would be extinct. Because of immunizations my parents, me, and my children can fight off diseases that were fatal in the earlier years. Giving my children their vaccinations is a priceless gift. It is one that I was happy to afford them. There are children in the facility where I work that have not had any vaccinations. Some are based on religion and others are because the parents don’t want them to have any. Their thinking is that they have not been sick without the shots, so why should I put them through that unnecessary pain. I am so fearful for those children. The funny thing is that the grandparents of these children gave their children (the parents) their immunizations when they were children. I can’t understand why parents would want to take a chance with their child’s health and life. It is like playing a game of roulette. We can only pray that these children won’t get sick and if they do that it want end badly. 

Over 10 million children die in low income countries each year due to the lack of immunizations. They are dead before they reach 15 years old. Their bodies are unable to fight off the diseases that enter their bodies. They lack the interventions needed to fight off the illnesses that they would normally get in vaccinations. UNICEF and WHO setup the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy in 2003 in Africa. This was designed to provide vaccinations that would help fight off diseases. A tremendous amount of progress has been made. The number of deaths have been reduced because of the availability of vaccines Because of donations, many families are able to receive immunizations in Africa. 

Below are two of the most precious gifts that God could ever give me. I have fortunate that they have not had any life threatening illnesses. They are both healthy and avoided most of the childhood illnesses. We take risk everyday. Why would you risk your child’s life? We take medicines everyday that have side effects of some sort. Is that a good enough reason not to take it? Immunizing your child is an important part of them having a healthy life. Because of vaccinations, we worry less about them getting sick as a child.

Arevshatian, L. Clements, CJ, Lwanga, SK, Misore, AO, Ndumbe, P. Seward, JF, and Taylor, P (2012). An Evaluation of Infant Immunization In Africa: is a transformation in progress. Retrieved from http://who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/6/06-031526/en

 

GIVING BIRTH

The birth of my two sons were very different. When I had my first son, I went into labor at 2:20 am. My water had broke at home, so they hooked the IV up and prepared me for delivery. I didn’t receive any medicine for pain. I was only 19 years old, so I was scared. They didn’t allow anyone to go into the delivery room with me, so I was alone other than the staff at the hospital. My mother was allowed to stay in the labor room with me until I was fully dilated. I was in labor from 2:20 am until 11:40 am when my son was born. My son was delivered by a midwife. My experience was okay. They kept me comfortable.

When I gave birth to my second son (11 years later), it was more soothing. I had my family with me the whole time. I went into labor at 8:00 pm. My water broke when I got o the hospital. The pain was not as intense with my second son as it was with my first. I had a natural childbirth (no meds). I chose not to have medicine because I wanted my baby to be fully alert when they arrived. I had been told that with the medication the baby will be a little drowsy. I did not fully dilate on my own so the doctor had to help with that. That was uncomfortable and i sort of made me mad, but he talked the whole time to take my mind off of it. During delivery, I talked with my family. My pastor; who is a very dear friend, kept making me laugh. I noticed she did that each time the monitor showed I was having a contraction. My OBGYN delivered my baby. When he was born, the doctor whistled a tune and then a lullaby started to play over the intercom. I was not moved to a delivery room. I remained in the same room from the time I got their until my son was born. He was cleaned up in the same room and I was able to hold him right away. My sister cut the cord. It’s funny how when you are having a baby you forget that everyone can see your goods. It doesn’t seem to matter. Maybe because it is a natural and joyous occasion.

Giving Birth in Ghana

Women in Ghana are able to choose if they want a traditional, modern, or religious childcare giver. It is mainly based on what their beliefs are. It depends upon who she trust the most. It has been said that the tradition and religious caregivers tell the women to pray so that they will have a protection over their pregnancy and their unborn child. They typically do not use any birth control because their family planning consists of them having as many children as they want. They do not attend the clinic for their checkups because being pregnant is not a disease and they don’t see any logical reason to go. This is not true for the entire population of Ghanasian women. Other factors such as work and poverty also play a part. Those who choose not to deliver in a hospital will find people that the trust to deliver the baby. These are mainly people that the family has used before. Women in the U.S. have choices. We can go to the hospital, stay home, and even have water births.

Fischer, M. (2002). Childbearing in Ghana: How beliefs affect care. SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.sit.ed/cgi?article=