Recently proclaimed CNN Hero of the Year, Robin Lim basks in the challenging yet rewarding job as midwife to the women of Bali, Indonesia. However, her current advocacy as midwife in Indonesia was not part of the plans Lim charted for herself early on in her life. Because of several personal tragedies, she had to leave her comfortable life in the U.S. and a steady income as author of many books on infant and maternal health. She decided that a new direction and a new life awaited her in Bali, Indonesia.

After migrating to Bali, Lim volunteered her expertise to help Indonesian midwives deliver babies in settings far different from the hospitals found in the U.S. For a developing Asian country like Indonesia, the average family income is just about US$8 daily.  But pregnant women who wish for the services of a hospital will have to prepare around US$ 70 – assuming birthing proceeds without complications. Women are charged more than US$700 if they avail of Caesarian section.  Because of the expensive and restrictive health and maternity costs, most women avoid medical help during their pregnancy, thus contributing to the high maternal and infant mortality rates in Indonesia.

Driven by her passion to help, Lim and her husband, with the aid of the Bali people and some donations from friends, built the first Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation) clinic in 2003. At the clinic, they were helped by a staff of midwives, nurses, housekeepers, a doctor and a chef.

When a massive tsunami in 2004 hit Bali, Lim opened a satellite clinic for the survivors.

As of today, Lim’s clinics have helped in delivering more than 5,000 babies. Despite the huge stream of customers, Lim shares that 80% of the families served by the clinics do not have the means to pay for birthing services. Prenatal care, birthing services and medical aid are now something that can be easily availed of because of Lim’s free clinics.

At the end, Lim’s new life has been a blessing not only for her, but for others as well.