I am humbled

Last night I went to help some ladies at the church put together 500 birthing kits to send to women in need in Haiti. Now when I thought of this, I'm thinking teddy bears, recieving blankets that sort of warm fuzzy things! But no, it was quite bleak. A compilation of basic tools to increase sanitation. A "Birthing Kit" includes: 1 clean razor blade(to cut the umbilical cord); 2 pieces of string; gauze pads; a paper birthing mat(11x14 legal sized paper); disposable gloves; soap; and a belly band. I was so humbled. In this day and age that is what women in Haiti are given in their time of need. I felt sick to my stomach, thinking of how I complained about "the noise" in the hospital when I had Ian. How dare I? The group that delivers these kits are called The joy and hope of Haiti it was so humbling to be a part of this small but substantial group putting these kits together.
Here is a blurb from their site

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 1 in every 17 women die each year from complications due to childbirth in Haiti. For every 100,000 births, between 500 and 1000 will result in death, putting Haiti as having one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Factors attributing to this high rate have been linked to inadequate access to health care facilities, high birth rates, early age pregnancy, malaria, tuberculosis and lack of skilled birth attendants. It is estimated that 60 percent of all deliveries are unattended in Haiti. Unsafe delivery procedures caused by using unclean instruments have resulted in high rates of infection after birth for both the mother and the child. On average, mothers have eight children or more and in many cases, when a mother passes away as a consequence of improper maternal care, she leaves the rest of the family without any support.

I just had no idea such things existed. And during the day the group of us had attended a rather extravagant baby shower, unlike one I have ever attended before. The lady was opening gifts for well over an hour! Such extravagance! Also one of the ladies who was helping assemble the kits was 9 months pregnant, and putting these meager supplies together actually brought tears to her eyes as she thought about the blessed circumstances under which she'd bring new life into this world. In comparison to how so many in Haiti have to give birth on dirt floors in less than santitary conditions.
It was an honour to help in even the smallest of ways.