Pink saves a life

Pink, the women's monthly magazine distributed with The Times, has indirectly saved a life!

Last month's in-depth article on the real atrocities of abortion, A Rude Awakening, has served to change a convinced woman's mind and get her to keep her baby.

In a letter to the editors, the woman's friend recounts how, just before she set off to undergo an abortion overseas, in the belief that there was no place for a child in her life, the unwilling mother was presented with the article in Pink, which intended to highlight the physical and psychological effects of terminating a pregnancy - straight from the horse's mouth.

The candid, warts-and-all story of an Irish woman, who had had an abortion, and a doctor whose job had been to perform them, was not sensational; it was just real. And it gave the expecting mother another perspective on what would have appeared to the uninformed to be a simple and easy solution to an unwanted problem.

As a result, a child will be born and will have a chance to life...

Still on the subject of new life, this month's issue, which comes out tomorrow, features a focus on organ transplants and the gruelling but ultimately happy story of a mother who donated her kidney to her daughter, saving her life and, in a sense, giving birth to her twice.

Last year, 10 people who died while on a ventilator had their organs donated to others who were waiting for a transplant, giving them a second chance. However, many are afraid to donate organs, fearing that if they sign up to become donors, they would not be treated in hospital, but left to die. This idea is far from correct, and patients are admitted into the Intensive Therapy Unit to be cured and not to become organ donors, medical authorities stress.

In its vox pop, Pink sounds out the public on their views on organ donation.

It also shines the spotlight on the debilitating, but not easily diagnosed ME, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The fact that this mystery disease is often misunderstood creates further unnecessary suffering for the victims and decreases chances of cure.

In a lighter vein, Pink's fashion pages look at stylish skiing and snowboarding gear, with the mountain sport season in full swing, despite not too much snow, while taking a peak at catalogue collections for spring and summer ahead.

LifeStyle's Debt Trap should set readers, who find that managing finances is an impossible mission and are drowning in the red after Christmas, on the right track; while Pink's psychologist offers tips on how to stick to resolutions; its OnForm guru lists eight ways to weight loss; detoxification is tackled from different angles; and grooming and etiquette indulged in for the all-round perfect person!

In a new section, WomensWorld - a TravelOgue without words - Pink transports readers on a pictorial journey that zooms in on women in their various roles, lifestyles and cultures around the globe.

The 27th issue of the monthly magazine is published by Allied Newspapers Ltd, printed by Progress Press Ltd and produced by MediaMaker. Its executive editors are The Times journalists Fiona Galea Debono and Ariadne Massa, and its design is in the hands of Helen Cassar Torreggiani and Joseph Schembri.