I have always loved writing from a very young age. Putting words and sentences together is a form of art which breathes life into the very soul of both the writer and the reader. In my writing, I aim to inspire, make others feel and connect with my audience on a tangible level.
Why Vaccinate? (In-Depth News Story)
The controversy of whether children should be vaccinated continues to be a trending topic in the public health sphere.
Parents are given the choice of whether to vaccinate their children and unintentionally, become dictators of infectious disease outbreak. Taking infants and immunocompromised patients into consideration, research and medical professionals suggest that choosing not to vaccinate may be a heavier decision than previously thought.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on December 28, 2014, an unvaccinated 11-year-old in Orange County, California, was hospitalized due to the onset of a rash. The patient visited a Disney theme park before noticing the rash.
One week later, on January 5, the California Department of Public Health was notified that this case was suspected measles. By January 7, seven California measles cases were confirmed and by April 24, 147 measles cases from seven states were reportedly linked to the amusement park outbreak.
An outbreak of a disease for which there is a vaccination seems impossible to many. Infectious disease physician Erica West has strong professional opinions about parents who choose not to vaccinate.
“If more people choose not to vaccinate, these otherwise forgotten viruses will start flourishing,” West said. “We will again live in the days when people died of measles, when babies were born dead with rubella and when people lost the use of their legs from polio.”
Out of the 110 California patients whose reports were recorded just over a month after the outbreak ensued, 45 percent were unvaccinated and 12 percent had received between one and three doses of the measles vaccination. The CDC highlights that out of those unvaccinated, 12 were newborns, and among the remaining 37, 28 were not vaccinated based on personal beliefs.
From its elimination in the U.S. in 2000, measles has made a major comeback. In 2004, 37 cases were reported; in 2014, 668 were reported. With an overwhelming amount of parents choosing not to vaccinate, outbreaks such as these will likely increase.
“Some people cannot get vaccines, such as children with immune deficiencies or people on chemotherapy,” West said. “They rely on the rest of us being vaccinated to decrease the amount of disease in a community. If 99 percent of people are vaccinated against measles, it will protect the 1 percent who can't get vaccinated. We've seen with small pox that it is possible to rid the entire world of a deadly disease, with widespread vaccination programs.”
The Journal of the American Medical Association highlights that from 1924 to 2014, more than 100 million cases of serious illnesses were prevented because of childhood vaccinations. Research suggests that this kind of success is only possible through a universal commitment to vaccinating.
Amber Kaufman, a nurse practitioner and founder of the non-profit Health Gives Hope, has experience in Ethiopia giving medical care
to women and children. Kaufman has witnessed the success of vaccines and the incredible medical achievement people have access to.
“I have seen pertussis and measles firsthand,” Kaufman said. “I have cared for patients that are immunocompromised and can’t get certain vaccines, but have been exposed to mumps from someone that decided not to be vaccinated. Babies with pertussis can end up in the intensive care unit or even die.”
Kelly Dykstra, mother of three girls under the age of eight, has chosen not to vaccinate her children. She believes in all-natural health practices and fears vaccinations because of their complex nature.
“We really are a family that likes to keep unnatural things like chemicals out of our home, so when it comes to our bodies, we aren't only careful of what we put on the outside of our bodies, but also inside,” Dykstra said. “Vaccines have many things in them that we don't agree with.”
While many argue against the unnatural nature of vaccines, others fear the possibility of contracting disorders as a result of vaccine administration. An anonymous source shared that as a result of vaccinations, her family was changed.
“My firstborn had a severe reaction to his 18-month shots and another reaction at his three-year shots, and became a different little boy. He started showing signs of autism and was not the bright little boy he was before,” the source said.
Many are not willing to take this risk, but Kaufman believes those who are healthy and able are ultimately the ones responsible for creating herd immunity. This is why when parents do not choose to vaccinate their healthy children, they are putting others at risk because they increase the chance of disease outbreak.
“If enough of the population (the herd) is immunized against the pathogen, outbreaks and exposure to the unimmunized are prevented. When the level of immunity of the herd decreases, the unimmunized loses herd immunity and is at risk for infection,” Kaufman said.
Among those at a higher risk for contracting disease are infants, who are unable to receive immunizations until 12 months of age, and immunocompromised patients. Both of these groups have no control over whether or not parents vaccinate their children, yet arguably, are the ones put at the highest risk for disease outbreak.
Michelle Lamb, whose mother recently recovered from breast cancer, expressed her concern for her mother’s low immunity during chemotherapy. Already at a low in her life, Lamb’s mother was put at a major risk for paying the cost of parents choosing not to vaccinate. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate may be the controversy, but these patients are rarely the ones put in the focus of the decision-making process.
“While I understand that parents have the right to make choices that they feel are best for their children, I have a hard time understanding why they wouldn’t want to prevent disease through vaccinations,” Lamb said. “It is frustrating to think my mother could have been exposed to something preventable.”
This in-depth news article was written for my advanced media writing class. I used both primary and secondary sources to write on the controversial topic of vaccinations.
The controversy of whether children should be vaccinated continues to be a trending topic in the public health sphere.
Parents are given the choice of whether to vaccinate their children and unintentionally, become dictators of infectious disease outbreak. Taking infants and immunocompromised patients into consideration, research and medical professionals suggest that choosing not to vaccinate may be a heavier decision than previously thought.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on December 28, 2014, an unvaccinated 11-year-old in Orange County, California, was hospitalized due to the onset of a rash. The patient visited a Disney theme park before noticing the rash.
One week later, on January 5, the California Department of Public Health was notified that this case was suspected measles. By January 7, seven California measles cases were confirmed and by April 24, 147 measles cases from seven states were reportedly linked to the amusement park outbreak.
An outbreak of a disease for which there is a vaccination seems impossible to many. Infectious disease physician Erica West has strong professional opinions about parents who choose not to vaccinate.
“If more people choose not to vaccinate, these otherwise forgotten viruses will start flourishing,” West said. “We will again live in the days when people died of measles, when babies were born dead with rubella and when people lost the use of their legs from polio.”
Out of the 110 California patients whose reports were recorded just over a month after the outbreak ensued, 45 percent were unvaccinated and 12 percent had received between one and three doses of the measles vaccination. The CDC highlights that out of those unvaccinated, 12 were newborns, and among the remaining 37, 28 were not vaccinated based on personal beliefs.
From its elimination in the U.S. in 2000, measles has made a major comeback. In 2004, 37 cases were reported; in 2014, 668 were reported. With an overwhelming amount of parents choosing not to vaccinate, outbreaks such as these will likely increase.
“Some people cannot get vaccines, such as children with immune deficiencies or people on chemotherapy,” West said. “They rely on the rest of us being vaccinated to decrease the amount of disease in a community. If 99 percent of people are vaccinated against measles, it will protect the 1 percent who can't get vaccinated. We've seen with small pox that it is possible to rid the entire world of a deadly disease, with widespread vaccination programs.”
The Journal of the American Medical Association highlights that from 1924 to 2014, more than 100 million cases of serious illnesses were prevented because of childhood vaccinations. Research suggests that this kind of success is only possible through a universal commitment to vaccinating.
Amber Kaufman, a nurse practitioner and founder of the non-profit Health Gives Hope, has experience in Ethiopia giving medical care
to women and children. Kaufman has witnessed the success of vaccines and the incredible medical achievement people have access to.
“I have seen pertussis and measles firsthand,” Kaufman said. “I have cared for patients that are immunocompromised and can’t get certain vaccines, but have been exposed to mumps from someone that decided not to be vaccinated. Babies with pertussis can end up in the intensive care unit or even die.”
Kelly Dykstra, mother of three girls under the age of eight, has chosen not to vaccinate her children. She believes in all-natural health practices and fears vaccinations because of their complex nature.
“We really are a family that likes to keep unnatural things like chemicals out of our home, so when it comes to our bodies, we aren't only careful of what we put on the outside of our bodies, but also inside,” Dykstra said. “Vaccines have many things in them that we don't agree with.”
While many argue against the unnatural nature of vaccines, others fear the possibility of contracting disorders as a result of vaccine administration. An anonymous source shared that as a result of vaccinations, her family was changed.
“My firstborn had a severe reaction to his 18-month shots and another reaction at his three-year shots, and became a different little boy. He started showing signs of autism and was not the bright little boy he was before,” the source said.
Many are not willing to take this risk, but Kaufman believes those who are healthy and able are ultimately the ones responsible for creating herd immunity. This is why when parents do not choose to vaccinate their healthy children, they are putting others at risk because they increase the chance of disease outbreak.
“If enough of the population (the herd) is immunized against the pathogen, outbreaks and exposure to the unimmunized are prevented. When the level of immunity of the herd decreases, the unimmunized loses herd immunity and is at risk for infection,” Kaufman said.
Among those at a higher risk for contracting disease are infants, who are unable to receive immunizations until 12 months of age, and immunocompromised patients. Both of these groups have no control over whether or not parents vaccinate their children, yet arguably, are the ones put at the highest risk for disease outbreak.
Michelle Lamb, whose mother recently recovered from breast cancer, expressed her concern for her mother’s low immunity during chemotherapy. Already at a low in her life, Lamb’s mother was put at a major risk for paying the cost of parents choosing not to vaccinate. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate may be the controversy, but these patients are rarely the ones put in the focus of the decision-making process.
“While I understand that parents have the right to make choices that they feel are best for their children, I have a hard time understanding why they wouldn’t want to prevent disease through vaccinations,” Lamb said. “It is frustrating to think my mother could have been exposed to something preventable.”
This in-depth news article was written for my advanced media writing class. I used both primary and secondary sources to write on the controversial topic of vaccinations.
Cedar Lake Ministries Letters to Constituents
Dear Pastor,
We recently had an individual from your church attend a retreat here at Cedar Lake Ministries. In light of this, we wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a little bit more about our ministry and invite you to be part of the work God is doing here.
Cedar Lake Ministries is a year-round camp and conference center that began in 1915 with one man’s vision for a place where people could get away for Bible conferences and "open air camps" for kids. Over 100 years later, our mission remains to “provide a life-changing environment for evangelism and spiritual growth.” We live out this mission by co-venturing with hundreds of churches, ministries, schools, families and businesses that utilize our full-service retreat center for conferences, reunions, workshops and more. As we rent out our facilities to groups across the globe, we pray that they will come to know Christ deeper by the end of their time here.
In addition to hosting retreat groups, Cedar Lake Ministries sponsors a variety of programs geared toward all age groups. Some of these events include ladies’ retreats, couples retreats, senior days, Christmas concerts, and more! We also house Catalyst Camps, a division of children and youth camps, within our ministry! Every summer and winter, we provide day and overnight camps for youth in kindergarten through 11th grade.
It is our passion to serve guests with refreshing getaway experiences! We believe the best way we can serve guests is through investing in the only thing that will last into eternity: their spiritual life.
We invite you to check out the enclosed brochure and to visit our website at cedarlakeministries.org to learn more about how we can provide a life-changing environment for evangelism and spiritual growth for you and your church!
In Christ,
Bob McRae
I wrote this letter on behalf of the executive director of Cedar Lake Ministries to be sent out to pastors of past retreat attendees.
Dear Pastor,
We recently had an individual from your church attend a retreat here at Cedar Lake Ministries. In light of this, we wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a little bit more about our ministry and invite you to be part of the work God is doing here.
Cedar Lake Ministries is a year-round camp and conference center that began in 1915 with one man’s vision for a place where people could get away for Bible conferences and "open air camps" for kids. Over 100 years later, our mission remains to “provide a life-changing environment for evangelism and spiritual growth.” We live out this mission by co-venturing with hundreds of churches, ministries, schools, families and businesses that utilize our full-service retreat center for conferences, reunions, workshops and more. As we rent out our facilities to groups across the globe, we pray that they will come to know Christ deeper by the end of their time here.
In addition to hosting retreat groups, Cedar Lake Ministries sponsors a variety of programs geared toward all age groups. Some of these events include ladies’ retreats, couples retreats, senior days, Christmas concerts, and more! We also house Catalyst Camps, a division of children and youth camps, within our ministry! Every summer and winter, we provide day and overnight camps for youth in kindergarten through 11th grade.
It is our passion to serve guests with refreshing getaway experiences! We believe the best way we can serve guests is through investing in the only thing that will last into eternity: their spiritual life.
We invite you to check out the enclosed brochure and to visit our website at cedarlakeministries.org to learn more about how we can provide a life-changing environment for evangelism and spiritual growth for you and your church!
In Christ,
Bob McRae
I wrote this letter on behalf of the executive director of Cedar Lake Ministries to be sent out to pastors of past retreat attendees.
Dear Volunteer,
For Cedar Lake Ministries, 2015 was a whirlwind of excitement! From the 100th Year Anniversary celebration to 46 middle school and high school students responding to the Gospel during Winter Camp to adding weekends to two different events, we are grateful for the ways God is working in and through this ministry. In the midst of all the excitement, it’s often easy to lose sight of what has gotten us there, and part of that is God’s provision of people to come alongside the ministry in the work that we do!
‘Tis the season to be thankful, and we are thankful for you! Thank you for your involvement and investment in Cedar Lake Ministries throughout our 100th year of ministry! We mean it when we say that we couldn’t do it without you. Our volunteers are key pieces to the puzzle of Cedar Lake Ministries. From maintenance work to stuffing newsletters and everything in between, you’ve been the hands and feet of Jesus in your selfless service. Know that we are deeply thankful for your investment in the Kingdom and that your dedication to serving the Lord has shown Christ to us and our guests. As a token of our gratitude, we have enclosed a Cedar Lake Ministries 2016 calendar. Our hope is that it will serve as a reminder to you to pray for us every day!
He is manifesting His glory, drawing people near to Him, and changing lives. As we reflect on 2015, let’s go into 2016 with greater expectations to see lost souls won for Christ (Ephesians 3:20) and for all of us to cultivate a deeper love for His people (John 13:35). Because when it comes down to it, that’s really all that matters, isn’t it?
In Christ,
Bob McRae
I wrote this letter on behalf of the executive director of Cedar Lake Ministries to be sent out in supplement to a calendar made by the ministry as a thank-you gift for volunteers.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Taylor Hillegonds
Cedar Lake Ministries
(219) 743-7256
[email protected]
REPEAT RETREAT: CEDAR LAKE MINISTRIES ADDS ADDITIONAL WEEKEND OF LADIES’ RETREAT
CEDAR LAKE, Indiana – After a successful weekend of filling all 300 beds on site, as well as having to turn down guests, Cedar Lake Ministries (www.cedarlakeministries.org) plans to add another weekend of Ladies’ Retreat to the 2016 calendar. Next April and May will mark the first time Cedar Lake Ministries has ever had two weekends for this event.
“This event has absolutely exploded. It’s increased by over double from last year’s attendance of 150 guests,” program director Debbie Douglas said. “Though we’re happy with the growth, it hit home when we had to turn down guests how necessary it is for an additional weekend next year.” Douglas decided that in order for the event to keep growing, additional planning and staffing would be essential for next year’s success.
Adding an additional weekend will help make the time more intentional for the ladies attending. Because the ministry has never held two weekends of the same event, they have not yet determined what all will go into the planning process. Douglas said that registration will open one month earlier for returning attendees than for the general public. Tentative plans include discontinuing certain discounts and increasing free time options, such as massages and pedicures.
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Cedar Lake Ministries is a retreat and conference center whose mission is to provide a life-changing environment for evangelism and spiritual growth through the rental of their facilities and the programming of events open to the public. For more information, contact Taylor Hillegonds at [email protected] or (219) 743-7256.
This press release was written for Cedar Lake Ministries to inform on their new program implementations to their popular event Ladies' Retreat.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Taylor Hillegonds
Cedar Lake Ministries
(219) 743-7256
[email protected]
REPEAT RETREAT: CEDAR LAKE MINISTRIES ADDS ADDITIONAL WEEKEND OF LADIES’ RETREAT
CEDAR LAKE, Indiana – After a successful weekend of filling all 300 beds on site, as well as having to turn down guests, Cedar Lake Ministries (www.cedarlakeministries.org) plans to add another weekend of Ladies’ Retreat to the 2016 calendar. Next April and May will mark the first time Cedar Lake Ministries has ever had two weekends for this event.
“This event has absolutely exploded. It’s increased by over double from last year’s attendance of 150 guests,” program director Debbie Douglas said. “Though we’re happy with the growth, it hit home when we had to turn down guests how necessary it is for an additional weekend next year.” Douglas decided that in order for the event to keep growing, additional planning and staffing would be essential for next year’s success.
Adding an additional weekend will help make the time more intentional for the ladies attending. Because the ministry has never held two weekends of the same event, they have not yet determined what all will go into the planning process. Douglas said that registration will open one month earlier for returning attendees than for the general public. Tentative plans include discontinuing certain discounts and increasing free time options, such as massages and pedicures.
###
Cedar Lake Ministries is a retreat and conference center whose mission is to provide a life-changing environment for evangelism and spiritual growth through the rental of their facilities and the programming of events open to the public. For more information, contact Taylor Hillegonds at [email protected] or (219) 743-7256.
This press release was written for Cedar Lake Ministries to inform on their new program implementations to their popular event Ladies' Retreat.
Health Gives Hope Press Kit