Heart wrenching True Story of the month - Life and death

Just want to share a happening here with the poor we work with in the Philippines. This just happened in the last few days.

One of the earliest friends we encountered is a lady who i shall call 'Julie'. Though she's a nice lady, it was the choice she made which we could not understand, nor can we change. She was separated from her husband and went to live with a another man and had children with him. He is an alcoholic and from what we know, has been showing very young children pornography movies.

'Julie' though barely in her late 30s already has a daughter who is barely 20. we shall call her 'Ann'. Ann already has a 'husband' whom we suspect is also
not civilly married to. She already has one child with him and now with the second child. Now comes the real story.

Julie had been diagnosed with cancer for the longest time, but since they did not have money they prayed and trusted God. At the time we knew her, she was heavily pregnant. But Doctors say the baby will not survive, because her cancerous condition will not allow it, doctors even say the baby is dead inside though i don't know what tests have been done. We prayed with her and she also fervently prayed (she's still Catholic) and the baby survived and was born. This in itself is a miracle. The gift of new life.

A few months ago, 'Ann' herself, was pregnant with her 2nd child. However during her first trimester, she had to take care of her mother who became increasingly ill. 'Julie looked like she would not survive this time. She needed many blood transfusions and there is only so much funds we could raise for her. 'Julie' eventually died in a hospital fit only for the poorest people, with no privacy, no dignity, no proper health care, no mercy from her own doctors. She was just another case, another dying patient with no money.

'Ann', on the other hand, had many mixed emotions and responsibilities to carry. We can only imagine how traumatic all this is. Hence she miscarried her child. There is death, again.

Again, due to lack of finances, 'Ann' couldnt get the medical help she needed. She said 'We can only pray'. The dead foetus stayed in her womb for 2 whole months, dead. How can this be? She has put her own life in danger. Did she miscalculate the dates? Are the doctors wrong? There was no more movement in her womb.

Finally, one of our missionaries brought her, together with donated funds to the hospital. She was induced and finally, the baby can now be blessed and given a place to bury.

Questions in my mind:
What are we really fighting about? Better healthcare? or basic healthcare?
Dignity of persons, or right to abortion?
The right to live, the right to die as a human being?

Prayer:
Thank you Father God, for You alone are the one who pulled this through.To give new life in a cancerous womb. You alone sustained the mother who kept carrying a dead child in her womb. Who could live with a dead baby in the womb for 2 months if not for your providence, your hand in this? You, Father give dignity to us your children, I pray that not only do we wait for those who can make decisions to make them, but to give us opportunities to co-operate with you, in bringing a little hope, a little help to those around us, to give a little dignity to those who have none, to those who do not think they deserve it. Amen.