• Children - Health - Vaccines

    When It Is Time to Speak UP

    When should we get involved in the political discussions in our country? Should moms and grandmas be activists? The book of Peter offers instruction: Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s…

  • Abortion - Health

    When Health Care Becomes Perplexing

    Health care was one of the top issues in the midterm elections. According to a letter that I received yesterday from the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan (my alma mater) : We grapple with the knowledge that the United States is the top spending country in health…

  • Health - Vaccines

    First Aid for My Husband

    Sometimes accidents happen, and that can lead to making an informed decision about a medical intervention. My husband came into the living room holding a cup under his left hand. His little finger was bleeding profusely; he was making sure that he didn’t drip on the floor. He said, “Can…

  • Faith - Health

    Illness, Resilience and Spirituality

    Two years ago I began corresponding with Marguerite Bouvard. She was looking for contributors for an anthology on illness and faith. I offered to write a chapter about my family’s experience caring for our son during his treatment for leukemia. We continued to e-mail back and forth. I wrote my…

  • Book Reviews - Health

    Every Baby is Valuable

    My daughter gave me the book, The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious European Showman Saved thousands of American Babies. The cover of the book suited the title. The book is an attempt to follow the life and work of a man credited with saving the life of…

  • Children - Health - Parenting - Vaccines

    Should We Fear the Measles?

    News reports about the measles are appearing in several states including Michigan and New York. The tone of the reports is fearful. It urges everyone to be sure they have been vaccinated . . . unless they were born before 1957. Everyone born before 1957 is assumed to have natural…