not staying silent this sunday

I'm breaking my own rules and not staying silent this Sunday.

That's because I have been tagged by mum2babyinsomniac and Mummy Daddy and Me Makes Three

in the Save the Children No Child Born To Die Campaign.

Mummy From The Heart and Hello It's Gemma have set the challenge 

to get 100 bloggers to write 100 words 

in support of the campaign. 

Michelle at Mummy From The Heart wrote this:

"I am sure that by now you have seen there is a severe draught in East Africa. I learned today that 750,000 are about to die and that we (yes all of us) are letting them die. Gosh, that does not sit comfortably does it? I hear you now 'Who me, no I don't want anyone to die'. I beg you, don't close the browser, keep reading. None of us want people to die but we have to challenge ourselves as to what we are willing to do about it. Saving our fellow humans is the responsibility of us all and that is not just giving money. Please do not shy away and think 'I'm broke, I can't help'. Yes you can, we all can. That is the truly amazing thing and all it costs is a little time.

These people in the developing world all have names and families and things they love to do but what they do not have is enough presence over here, a big enough voice so they are heard. Lets all help to give these people a voice. Today I listened to Lucy, talking from South Sudan about how a lack of health workers in so many countries means that people die needlessly. Save the Children are campaigning to change this.

...a fellow blogger Chris Mosler (@ChristineMosler) will attend the UN General Assembly in New York. She is going there with Liz Scarff on behalf of Save the Children to pressure David Cameron to play his full part in solving the health worker crisis. There is a target of 60,000 signatures on the petition by Tuesday. At the moment that petition sits at 41,673 can we change that? Sure we can!”

And new as I am to blogging,

I would really like to think that we can. 

That a load of mummies and daddies 

who spend their days talking to one another through twitter, facebook and their blogs, 

can use their voices for good, 

to give a voice to those that don't.

Since falling pregnant last year, 

I have had the pleasure to come in contact with many NHS health workers. 

And for all the criticism that the NHS gets, 

everyone of these workers has helped me and supported me in some way. 

I may not have the beautiful and healthy little boy that I have today, without their help.

I had an easy breezy pregnancy 

and all the midwives I came into contact with 

gave me the confidence and strength to believe 

that I would make it through child birth, 

that I could look after a baby 

and that I would do a good job of it.

My labour wasn't the easiest and breeziest,

and without the support I received from my fantastic midwife 

and the epidural from a so-wonderful-I-could-have-kissed-him anaesthetist

I'm not sure I could have made it through with my sanity intact.

And when my little guy started to show signs of distress

the doctors, nurses and midwives who helped me to get him out, 

as quickly as possible, 

without needing a caesarian, 

gave me the most beautiful gift I have ever had.

My beautiful, healthy boy.

At thirteen days old,

when the little guy refused to keep down any milk at all.

And my newly formed mummy instincts told me that something wasn't right,

I was taken so seriously by all the health workers we dealt with 

over the phone, in A&E and on the children's ward. 

And we brought our little guy home again, 

two weeks after the first time, 

happy and healthy.

I really can't say thank-you enough

all the people who have helped us along the way 

for all that they have done.

And I can't bear to think about what it must be like 

to go through it all without the support and care that we so luckily received.

So please

if my blog makes you do one thing today

don't make it a comment on Silent Sunday.

Make your one thing make a difference.

Go and sign the petition.

Do it now!

They only have until Tuesday to get all the signatures.

And I know that I wrote more that 100 words,
it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me
that I would always go over a word count and not under.
But it really is an important cause so I'm hoping you'll let me off.

I'm tagging

Boo and Me

A Mums Madness

Moors Mummy

Random Thoughts from a Random Woman

and

Accidentally Kle

I'm sure I won't be the only person tagging you ladies today.