Jeannine Parvati Baker Hygieia House 10 North State Street Joseph UT 84739 USA (435) 527-3738 jpb@birthkeeper.com September 17, 2004 Dear Editor, The Reaper’s front page on September 15, 2004 celebrates life’s ordinary miracle. A baby was born naturally into the loving hands of his father. Only the mother and big brother were present for the birth -- plus the voice of the EMT by phone. In a world that reports the many tragedies of our times, it is refreshing to read of a simple joy. I appreciate the Reaper for making this front page news. Congratulations to Jennifer Ball for letting her baby be born the way he wanted to be. With that said, that the birth of a baby is deemed important enough for the front page indicates just how far removed we are from the big picture in Sevier County. A multitude of babies are being born without medical management, safely at home, all over the world. One would think that American hospitals are the best place to have a baby yet there are at least 20 other countries in the world that have better mortality and morbidity statistics than us (as reported by the World Health Organization). The countries that rank the highest have more babies born at home than in hospital. The Ball family could have easily stayed in Hunter’s camp to give birth if they had known that their chances of dying were far greater driving than giving birth. We are led to believe that birth is dangerous when it is ignorance that is dangerous. Birth is as safe as life gets. Sincerely, Jeannine Baker Joseph This letter was printed in the Richfield Reaper September 15, 2004 Volume 116, Number 37.