I feel very privileged to have had an Amish midwife deliver two of my five children at home. Like Leah in this story, Martha preferred herbal products, and she gave me insight into many Amish ways.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to the wonderful people at the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, who do genetic research into inherited diseases of the Amish and Mennonites. They graciously gave of their time to show me around the clinic, explain their research, and demonstrate the equipment they use for studying genes. For those who want more information or who would like to donate to their work, please visit clinicforspecialchildren.org.
As always, I’m grateful to my Amish friends, who invite me into their lives and check my books for accuracy.