Just Like My Child Foundation July Newsletter

I just received this note from Sister Ernestine Akulu, founder of the Bishop Asili Hospital in rural Uganda. When I get messages like this, it puts fire in my belly and I can't rest until I know that at least in one spot of the world, we have done all that we can to help mothers and children survive childbirth.

Hello Vivian,

I want to share with you the story of Josephine -- a mother who needed urgent surgical intervention to save her and her baby's life. I hope you will share this with your wonderful supporters who have brought hope to our community.

25th of November, 6:30 pm. Josephine Ajidiru arrives at the Bishop Asili Hospital in labour. She is at full term of her pregnancy, ready to give birth.

7:30 pm. Labour begins normally but it turns out to be non-progressive. Our experienced midwife, Sister Teddy, determines that the baby is in distress.

9:30 pm. There is no public means of transport. Both mother and baby's life are severely at risk. We must transfer Josephine to another hospital to have a C-section. We do not have the facility to perform safe surgeries at Bishop Asili. We had to grab Joseph the electrician and ASK him to drive Josephine to another hospital in a pick up truck.

10:00 pm. Joseph takes Josephine accompanied by Sister Teddy to the closest hospital nearly 15 miles away, bumping and turning on horrible roads while poor Josephine is in full, complex labor.

11:20 pm. Sister Teddy accompanies Josephine to the surgical suite. She participates in the operation until the baby is born and Josephine is taken to the postoperative ward safe with her baby to rest.

If circumstances had been just a little different that night, we would have lost both the mother and the baby. Certainly Josephine was one of our luckier patients.

This is only one of the many cases we encounter everyday: face to face with surgical emergencies, but with no facility to help.

Josephine calls the baby "Queen" because she is a precious baby and her first. Queen was saved from death while Queen Elizabeth the 2nd was here in Uganda for the Commonwealth meeting.

Sister Ernestine Every day we pray that we will be able to tell many more stories with happy endings once we have the right facilities at Bishop Asili.

May God be praised for all that Just Like My Child Foundation has brought to us already. It is really a miracle.

Happiest of Holidays,
Sister Ernestine Akulu
Bishop Asili Hospital
Luwero, Uganda, East Africa

I truly stand in awe at what the Just Like My Child community has been able to do in such a short time to help build a sustainable infrastructure for this hospital with your support. This letter from Sister Ernestine illustrates the dire gap that still needs to be filled. We are already saving hundreds of children and mothers but with only an additional $125,000, we can build a surgical suite.

Will you join the Just Like My Child Foundation in giving Sister Ernestine the best Christmas gift ever: a new surgical suite?

WE have the blue prints drawn, the contractor selected, and the equipment chosen. The builders are ready to work! All we need is $125,000 more AND WE'RE READY TO GO.

Call me at 858-450-6565 if you have any questions or visit www.justlikemychild.com and help make dreams come true.


newsletter december 2007
Will you join the Just Like My Child Foundation in giving Sister Ernestine the best Christmas gift ever: a new surgical suite? December 16, 2007 Dear %$firstname$%, I just received this note from Sister Ernestine Akulu, founder of the Bishop Asili Hospital in rural Uganda. When I get messages like this, it puts fire in my belly and I can't rest until I know that at least in one spot of the world, we have done all that we can to help mothers and children survive childbirth. Hello Vivian, I want to share with you the story of Josephine -- a mother who needed urgent surgical intervention to save her and her baby's life. I hope you will share this with your wonderful supporters who have brought hope to our community. 25th of November, 6:30 pm. Josephine Ajidiru arrives at the Bishop Asili Hospital in labour. She is at full term of her pregnancy, ready to give birth. 7:30 pm. Labour begins normally but it turns out to be non-progressive. Our experienced midwife, Sister Teddy, determines that the baby is in distress. 9:30 pm. There is no public means of transport. Both mother and baby's life are severely at risk. We must transfer Josephine to another hospital to have a C-section. We do not have the facility to perform safe surgeries at Bishop Asili. We had to grab Joseph the electrician and ASK him to drive Josephine to another hospital in a pick up truck. 10:00 pm. Joseph takes Josephine accompanied by Sister Teddy to the closest hospital nearly 15 miles away, bumping and turning on horrible roads while poor Josephine is in full, complex labor. 11:20 pm. Sister Teddy accompanies Josephine to the surgical suite. She participates in the operation until the baby is born and Josephine is taken to the postoperative ward safe with her baby to rest. If circumstances had been just a little different that night, we would have lost both the mother and the baby. Certainly Josephine was one of our luckier patients. This is only one of the many cases we encounter everyday: face to face with surgical emergencies, but with no facility to help. Josephine calls the baby "Queen" because she is a precious baby and her first. Queen was saved from death while Queen Elizabeth the 2nd was here in Uganda for the Commonwealth meeting. Every day we pray that we will be able to tell many more stories with happy endings once we have the right facilities at Bishop Asili. May God be praised for all that Just Like My Child Foundation has brought to us already. It is really a miracle. Happiest of Holidays, Sister Ernestine Akulu Bishop Asili Hospital Luwero, Uganda, East Africa I truly stand in awe at what the Just Like My Child community has been able to do in such a short time to help build a sustainable infrastructure for this hospital with your support. This letter from Sister Ernestine illustrates the dire gap that still needs to be filled. We are already saving hundreds of children and mothers but with only an additional $125,000, we can build a surgical suite. Will you join the Just Like My Child Foundation in giving Sister Ernestine the best Christmas gift ever: a new surgical suite? Donate Now WE have the blue prints drawn, the contractor selected, and the equipment chosen. The builders are ready to work! All we need is $125,000 more AND WE'RE READY TO GO. Call me at 858-450-6565 if you have any questions or visit www.justlikemychild.com and help make dreams come true. With deep gratitude and warmest wishes for unity and fulfillment in 2008! Vivian Glyck Founder and Executive Director, Just Like My Child Foundation