Hand of Hope

A picture began circulating in November. It should be "The Picture of the Year," or perhaps, "Picture of the Decade." It won't be.  In fact, unless you obtained a copy of the US paper which published it, you probably would never have seen it. The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby name d Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by surgeon named Joseph Bruner. The baby was diagnosed with spinabifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Alanta.  She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby.  As Dr. Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile. The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity.  The editors titled the picture, "Hand of Hope." The text explaining the picture begins, "The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life." Little Samuel's mother said they "wept for days" when they saw the picture.  She said,”The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person." Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful. Now see the actual picture, and it is awesome...incredible...The world needs to see this one!

P.S. Don't tell me God isn't awesome!!!!!

So I pretty much hate blood, pass out with needles and anything medical just turns my stomach! I received the above in an email awhile back and it moved me greatly then! Today during my ethics class on abortion I was reminded of it and challenged to think about the instinctive value we put on human life and that when we see or hear of a human life that has unfairly been taken, been hurt, rejected or despised it pulls at something deep inside saying this isn’t right.

80 million people aren't meant to go to bed starving tonight and 27000 children die from malnutrition today!

In the next twenty four hours, 1,439 Teens will attempt suicide. Did you know suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 - 24 years old, and the sixth leading cause of death for 5 - 14 year old?

“The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person."- a little person who was made in the image of God for the will of God. I suppose I was challenged to look at how I value human life and out work this in my day to day living. How do you value human life and outwork this in your day to day living? Are you like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) filled with the love of God who is able to put aside surface differences and love and value each man as a child of God?

Comments

[Shane Clifton]

What a staggering photo and story. It certainly does lead one to wonder and prayer.

[Lorna S. Gundayao]

it is really an awesome thing that God showed to us..He is the author of Life...