Last Thursday afternoon, I received a letter from Unicef, on behalf of East West Bank credit cards. In it was an empty sachet of oral rehydration salts and the story of one-year old baby Mary Jane from Samar , who along with many others unknowingly drank contaminated water which resulted to acute diarrhea. Not knowing what to do, her mother just kept her close, maybe silently praying God would save her daughter’s life.
Help arrived in the form of a health worker who brought oral rehydration salts, and who showed everyone, including Mary Jane’s mom how to prepare and administer the solution to those affected. Continuous administration of the oral rehydration salts revived the baby and saved her life.
Imagine that! There wasn’t anything special about that small packet, yet it was enough to save a life, several lives, in fact. These things are what we usually take for granted, but to many people, they spell a big difference between life and death.
As I read the story, I couldn’t help but cry. Mahina talaga ang puso ko pagdating sa mga bata. I mean, no baby should suffer because well, they’re just babies! They’re supposed to be pampered, loved, cared for, and while they’re still young, be allowed time to play and grow. But the sad reality is that we have more babies than we could care for and the sadder thing is, there are more unscrupulous people who are out to destroy other people’s lives.
So what can we do? UNICEF’s marketing campaign letter said that one’s P750 monthly will be able to save the lives of 25 children who need oral rehydration salts treatment with zinc supplementation. A monthly donation of P1,500 will be able to save 50 children, and a P2,000 monthly donation will be able to help prevent diarrhea by providing access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. The latter will be able to provide a shallow well and water pump, or a toilet facility to many communities and families.
I did my part, and after faxing the form, prayed to God to help me sustain my small monthly contribution. Because I have kids and I know how it is to be a mother who can’t bear the sight of her children suffering from even as small as a common cold or a cough. Because I am a mother who loves her kids so much. And because I am a mother who wants the best for all the children of the world. After all, children are supposed to be pampered, loved, cared for, and while they’re still young, allowed time to play, grow, and enjoy what life has to offer.
There are millions out there who deserve our love. If you want to make a contribution, however small it is, you can call UNICEF’s hotline at (02) 758-1000, or email them at psfrmanila@unicef.org.
P.s. I believe God was fervently listening to my silent prayer as I was faxing the form, because that night, my tita, my father’s eldest sister, suddenly gave me money. Not just for me, but for my sisters, and our kids. How great could God be, huh? The day hadn’t ended yet, but He was already teaching me a great lesson—that if we would only let go of our material things, our money, most especially and share it with others, He will give us more. Praise God, indeed!
And Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, especially to our own mothers who gave us this wonderful life. Ü
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