Skip to main content

'Hand of Hope' Boy Has Passion for Life

'Hand of Hope' Boy Has Passion for Life
by Suzanne Hadley on 05/07/2009 at 8:30 AM

Do you remember the famous photograph of the baby reaching out of the womb and grasping the doctor's finger? That baby is now 9-year-old Samuel Armas.

The photo has been spread around the world and even cited during congressional debates on the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, but for Samuel it has personal significance. According to Fox News:

"When I see that picture, the first thing I think of is how special and lucky I am to have God use me that way," Samuel told FOXNews.com. "I feel very thankful that I was in that picture."

On Aug. 19, 1999, photographer Michael Clancy shot the "Fetal Hand Grasp" — his picture of a 21-week-old fetus grasping a doctor's finger during innovative surgery to correct spina bifida. Nearly four months later, on Dec. 2, Samuel Armas was "born famous."

The photo sparked controversy when the photographer claimed he saw the baby reach out and grab the doctor's finger, while the doctor claimed the baby was too anesthetized to do so.

"I don't care, honestly," Julie Armas [Samuel's mother] said. "What I felt the picture showed is that this is a child engaging in some form of interaction. I'm a labor and delivery nurse, so I understand that Samuel was anesthetized to some degree.

"So if he reached out, I don't know. If Dr. Bruner reached out, I don't know. The fact of the matter is it's a child with a hand, with a life, and that's meaningful enough."

And Samuel is glad to be the "poster child" for life:

Samuel, now 9 and living in Villa Rica, Ga., said the photo likely gave countless "babies their right to live" and forced many others to debate their beliefs on abortion, something he's proud of.

"It's very important to me," Samuel said of the photograph. "A lot of babies would've lost their lives if that didn't happen."

Kids like Samuel and Lia encourage me. Children seem to step up instantly to defend other children. They don't even question it. We can learn something from them.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

More on Msafara

Hi, I got this from the Msafara Blog . Thought it would be good to share it here. Getting ready from Msafara - Wheels of Hope by msafara We are just getting ready to begin the Msafara this Friday. We have done all that we can . . . and the time has come. To prepare for the Spiritual warfare, we have engaged a strategy of 4 levels of prayer: A team of 5 National Intercessors who will go ahead of us and pray over our ministry, the places we shall be in, and the strongholds in each of these towns (Mombasa is notorious for witchcraft and demonization. Eldoret houses the First Masonic Temple ever built in Kenya/E. Africa). This team intercedes on behalf of this nation full-time. They will spend several days of prayer in each place. A larger team of 100 Church intercessors - mainly lay people trained in the ministry of intercession. They will be involved I city prayer walks, going to specific points of the city blood was shed. Going totemples or witchcraft centers, etc. They will spend on...

Study Shows Drinking Tea is Actually Healthier than Drinking Water

Study Shows Drinking Tea is Actually Healthier than Drinking Water Teresa Neumann (September 18, 2008) Provides antioxidants, replaces fluids, strengthens bones and protects against dental plaque. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say. (United Kingdom)—The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has reported that tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers. Other health benefits, according to a BBC report, included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening. Public health nutritionist Dr. Carrie Ruxton said, "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. "Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it. Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, reall...

The Secret vs The Bible

Or should I put the, The Bible versus The Secret. Of late a couple of my friends have asked me a lot about 'The Secret' which is supposed to be revolutionizing people's lives. I got a chance to watch the DVD on TS but somehow I was not convinced. Don't get me wrong, a lot of what they teach is great and people should be applying it. But I do have a couple of issues with it. One thing that really bothered me is the way they sort of overlooked God or glossed over him. They even do quote scripture and all but still, it wasn't convincing. They have Biblical principals and even teach that many preachers e.g Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen and so on teach principles based on the secret. Well, I think they are just trying to justify their teaching. I for one listen to all these preachers regularly. I am subscribed to their podcasts, buy their books and CDs and DVDs. Never once did I hear them use the secret as their reference material. They use the Bible - God...