Life is a journey which takes a great deal of thought and planning. My personal journey has been an exciting and fulfilling one. There's the creation of four children (Sara 11| Laura| 10| Emma| 9| and Robert| 6) with my husband| Paul| owned and operated a successful health care consulting firm. And| I've also had the privilege of putting my husband through dental school. A yummy mummy indeed!
While Paul was at school| I gave birth to three of our four children| ran my company| traveled extensively for business. It was challenging with many sacrifices during those student days| but in looking back the decision was an easy one to make. Paul was my life investment with dividends paid out when he graduated and I was able to stay at home to raise our children.
That was the year 2000! Life as a stay-at-home Mom in these past years has been fabulous and demands many of the skills I learned during my masters program| and the board room. In truth though| there has always been something missing. I harbored a strong need to contribute to society in a bigger| socially conscious way| to be stimulated intellectually| to feel more complete.
The missing piece of the puzzle showed itself during a trip to Uganda in 2004 where I volunteered as a health professional in the community of Ggaba. Since that fateful trip| my journey continues as the voice for those who have none| to be the hope for those who have little| and to be the mummy with the tools and resources to help. What I experienced in that country of so little were feelings of helplessness| anger| shame and disgust. I decided to channel those feelings into something proactive to help ease the pain and suffering caused by
malaria. All my patients had malaria| the forgotten disease. I was shocked by its deadly nature and high incidence rate.
I've learned that malaria has always been a health threat to African nations| but currently it poses the most significant threat to the health of the Ugandan population. In fact| it is the leading killer of children! This staggering fact is unbelievable because it can be prevented simply by stopping
mosquito bites (which occur mainly at night while children sleep) with the use of l
ong lasting insecticide treated bed nets.
I am a Mother of Reinvention because I am the Founder of the charitable organization|
Buy-A-Net (BAN). Our mandate is to provide bed nets and anti-malaria medicines free of charge to the two most vulnerable target groups| children under five years old and pregnant women. We are succeeding one village at a time through public education| distribution| monitoring| follow-up| and treatment.
We partner with various reputable| like minded agencies| and recruit health professionals to deliver health care. I am building a business to help others| where all monies raised go directly to the needy. I am a global mother where I care for and protect not only my own children| but thousands of others half a world away.
We live in a time where
all mothers need to contribute beyond each of our own borders. We need to take ownership for all children| for it is our responsibility to affect change for those who don't have the basic necessities of life| let alone the tools to do so. They need our help. It simply won't happen through government. It will happen with us! And it's happening at
Buy-A-Net.
www.buyanet.ca
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