Tacos are better on Tuesdays

I just received this email from my friend in Bali, who’s midwife has been nominated for the CNN Hero of the Year award. I just love when things like this hit so close to home. I love that there are people out there living a life of service, devoted day in and day out to bettering the lives of others. A true inspiration for all, especially us women. 

I never do this, but if you have a moment to vote it would be greatly appreciated :) Check out the video link & email from my friend below!

Lotsa love - TP 

Hello Friends,

I just got home from having lunch with our midwife, Robin Lim, who is also nominated for CNN Hero or the Year award for the amazing work she has done here in Indonesia and globally for the education she has provided regarding Gentle Birth, Breastfeeding, Lotus Birth, etc.  She started a Birthing Center and Clinic named Bumi Sehat here in Ubud as well as another clinic in Aceh, Indonesia (in response to the devastating earthquake in 2004)  to provide an free option for the hundreds/thousands of women that need it.  She has delivered thousands of babies and saved hundreds of lives by giving women a viable option to come and have their babies under care and supervision of midwives and volunteers.  According to Robin, 961 women die everyday in or from childbirth because they are not getting or can’t afford proper care.  Here in Indonesia, if a woman deliveries her baby in a hospital and can’t afford to pay the bill ($70 for natural birth and $700 for cesarian), she cannot remove her baby from the hospital until she can pay the bill and while the baby is there, the mother is allowed in twice a day at 8am and 8pm to feed and change her baby!  Can you even imagine?  Since the average income in Indonesia is $80/month, there are a lot of babies suffering in the hospitals while the parents try to find the money to get them out.  
Robin and Bumi Sehat provides a free place for women to come and have their babies, under the best care and supervision.  The Clinic is run completely on donations from people like you and I.  Because of the amazing work that she has done, CNN has nominated Robin one of the CNN Heros of the Year.  If she wins, she will be granted $250,000 which will go to building a much needed new clinic, supporting the clinics and staff, supplying things like pre-natal vitamins to the hundreds of women that survive on white rice alone, and start funds to open more clinics like the 2 existing ones.  The clinic also provides pre and post natal care, childrens clinic, acupuncture, nutrition support, breastfeeding support as well as jobs for those in the community. Just visiting this clinic helps to put things in perspective.
Of course this cause is very close to my heart, especially in the days before my own birth experience.  I feel so blessed and honored to be having a baby with the guidance of such an amazing woman and hero.  She lives everyday (and night) of her life in service.  
Please, I beg you, to take a few minutes everyday to vote for Robin.  Please spread the word.  You can vote up to 10 times a day and every single vote gets her closer to being able to help thousands of women, children and babies.  If you want to even go one step further, donate to the clinic.  Every dollar counts.
To Vote: http://heroes.cnn.com/vote_en.aspx
To learn more about Bumi Sehat and Robin: http://www.bumisehatbali.org/