Emedinews:Makesure: A rape victim developed HIV infection.

Situation: A rape victim developed HIV infection.
Reaction: Oh my God! Why was she not given post exposure ART prophylaxis?
Lesson: Make sure all rape victims are counseled for HIV post exposure ART prophylaxis.

Emedinews:Makesure:A rape victim developed HIV infection.

Situation: A rape victim developed HIV infection.
Reaction: Oh my God! Why was she not given post exposure ART prophylaxis?
Lesson: Make sure all rape victims are counseled for HIV post exposure ART prophylaxis.

Emedinews:Inspiration:The Corner Store

As he staggered down the street, he was so alone; He was desolate, with no one to call his own. The corner store about to close, he had to get there fast; Reason left him long ago, his good life in the past.

Bill stumbled on the step, as he walked inside the door; the liquor counter filled the back, of the corner store. Bill was there to buy his nightly bottle of cheap wine, soon he'd be oblivious, and life would then be fine.

Remembering days gone by were more then he could bear, Bill had been successful, with a family in his care. His son was only sixteen; the day he passed away, Bill started drinking alcohol, to ease his pain that day.

The alcohol possessed him, he couldn't put it down, and Bill soon became well known, as the drunk of that small town. He couldn't hold his job and he also lost his wife, He lost all the good things; as alcohol became his life.

Bill left the corner store, brown paper bag in hand, what happened to him next, no one will understand. He went into an alley; he had no place else to go, He silently began to cry, for he had sunk so low.

Next morning in the alley, there gathered a small crowd; everyone was whispering ... no one spoke out loud. Empty bottle on the ground, beside a lifeless heap, the grim reaper paid a visit, as Bill lay there fast asleep.

The lesson from this tragedy will shortly be forgot, big bottles of cheap wine will continue to be bought. Bill's battle has been lost, for him there is no more, still...there will be others, heading for the corner store.

Emedinews:Inspiration:The Cocoon

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly, and he brought it home. One day, a small opening appeared in the cocoon. The man sat and watched the cocoon for several hours as the butterfly struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if the butterfly had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no farther.

The man decided to help the butterfly in its struggle. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon and the butterfly emerged easily.

As the butterfly emerged, the man was surprised. It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. He continued to watch the butterfly expecting that, at any moment, the wings would dry out, enlarge, and expand to support the swollen body. He knew that in time the body would contract, and the butterfly would be able to fly but neither happened!

In fact, the butterfly spends the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle were required for the butterfly to be able to fly.

The butterfly must push its way through the tiny opening to force the fluid from its body and wings. Only by struggling through the opening can the butterfly's wings be ready for flight once it emerges from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If our Higher Power allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been and we could never fly!

Spread your wings and prepare to fly, for you have become a butterfly...

Fly abandonedly into the sun!

Emedinews:Inspiration:The Challenge

It was decided that we would enter our first sports race or challenge as it was also called. The event was for a really good cause and sounded like a great idea. We would all train accordingly in preparation for the big day. A 60-mile course consisting of three paddling legs, two cycling segments and two running courses lied ahead. We decided which part of the race each of us would complete and recruited a driver for our team.

We came up with a team name, and so we had the birth of the Warren Street Rat Pack. What we might have lacked in physical ability, we would make up in enthusiasm. We arrived at the starting point adorn with our team t-shirts. We looked like true contenders. My teammates left me at the starting line to run my leg of the challenge and headed off to the next checkpoint.

When it was time for the challenge to begin, I joined the large group of runners at the starting line. I observed some of the runners stretching, some walking in circles nervously and decided to converse with a small group who chattered and laughed non-stop while waiting for the race to begin. I have never been in a race before; the excitement of taking off swept me away. People lined that streets and were cheering. I stuck with the group of runners until I realized I was completely out of breath and was running at speed that was twice as fast as I had ever gone before.

(Contributed by Ms Ritu Sinha)

I managed to finish my leg in the time that I had hoped for, with only two runners finishing behind me. My team cheered me on as if I was the first to cross the line and I felt like a champion. It was time to pass the baton to our next team member who would embark on his first kayak ride since he attended summer camp as a boy.
With the completion of each leg of the race, our team members applauded wildly and acknowledged success for the person who just finished their turn. I am sure the spirit of our team was lifted a bit higher when one our teammates took off with a giant smile while ringing the bell on her three-speed bike. We all followed her in the car for a bit, laughing as we watched her emanating joy with her smile; waving to every person she passed by.

The first place team had long since passed the finish line, the check in points were being dismantled, and the big celebration party had already kicked off when we had one last kayak route to complete. Now on his second kayak ride since attending summer camp as a boy, our finish line team member set off to complete the challenge for our team. We did our best to stay close enough to him, so that he could hear us rooting for him. Our excitement level was high, as we were about to complete our first sports race, or challenge as it was also called.
At last we helped our kayaker to pull the boat ashore after he crossed the finish line. Jumping up and down, hugging one another, offering raised hands welcoming the high-fives, we had finished. The encouragement we gave to each other, the laughter we shared and the way we embraced each part of the journey put us on a winning team, which by the way came in last.

We all agreed to enter the Greenway Challenge together again this year. Although we have considered making some changes in our strategy looking back, perhaps we shouldn't change a thing.

Emedinews:Inspiration:The Carpenter

Once there was an elderly carpenter who was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans. To leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house. The contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift for your retirement as a token of my appreciation." What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house. He would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort.

Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Emedinews:Inspiration:The Bird Feeder

Last fall, I hung outside my window a bird feeder. Now not knowing the first thing about wild birds, I assumed that as soon as I hung this bird feeder outside, a multitude of beautiful birds would be swooping to my new addition. Days, weeks and months went by; NO BIRDS.

I asked so many people what to do? What was I doing wrong? "Nothing" most of them replied. "Just wait." So I waited and waited and waited trying everything possible, to attract these birds.

I cleaned off the deck, I changed the feed, I washed the feeders, I even made the cat go out the other door! But nothing seemed to work. So......I waited, "with patience and hope."

Two months later, on a Saturday afternoon, I FROZE! What to my eyes had appeared on the bird feeder but the most beautiful bird I have ever seen in my life! All of a sudden HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF BIRDS WERE APPEARING FROM EVERYWHERE!

What a beautiful lesson I learned from this little creature. "Patience and hope" and "things" will attract the beautiful things in life. I never realized how much patience I really do have and how much I do rely upon "hope" to sort out the questions in my heart.

So I keep hoping and waiting, waiting and hoping. I will try to use this "little lesson" with so many other things in my life. I guess "patience is a virtue" after all.

Emedinews:Makesure:A rape victim developed HIV infection.

Situation: A rape victim developed HIV infection.
Reaction: Oh my God! Why was she not given post exposure ART prophylaxis?
Lesson: Make sure all rape victims are counseled for HIV post exposure ART prophylaxis.