He

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Hes My SonThe Story of MICAHs Mission
Ministry to Improve Child and Adolescent Health
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He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what
does the Lord require of you? To act justly and
to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 68
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Each year, about 12,400 children are diagnosed
with cancer
and 2,300 die
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Cancer is leading cause of death by disease in
children
despite dramatically increased survival rates
for certain types of childhood cancer.
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Childhood leukemia is a blood forming cancer.
It is thought to have beginnings in the
womb From exposures passed from mother to her
unborn baby At critical stages of development
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Jarrett Micah-Smith McElheney was diagnosed at 4
with childhood leukemia
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An investigation by environmental health agencies
found that the McElheney family was exposed to
toxic chemicals
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chemicals, including benzene, which came from
nearby industries
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Their very deep well was permanently shut down.
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Their risk for cancer increased.
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Jarrett responded wellto therapy and now isan
active 11-year-old
free of cancer.
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It is Jarretts mission to tell his story so that
others can live healthier lives.

- Jill McElheney
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After traveling to Washington, DC, in 2002, Jill
realized what she had already been doing on her
own -- looking for causes of illness, and
offering support to families in need, was what
needed to be done.
Photo from Athens Banner-Herald, 2002
Starting MICAHs Mission was her next step.
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Rooted in their Christianbeliefs, MICAHs
Missionis not meant to excludethose individuals
or familiesthat do not share their values.
Jill says, it is to see the bigger picture,
and leave our children a better future and
environment.
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Taking Action
Citing the need for rural families to know about
the possibility of contamination, MICAHs
Mission has met with Georgia legislators
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Some of the topics that MICAHs Mission has
discussed with law-makers include

• Helping families research the history of their
  property
• Make reduced cost water tests available
• Set up a remediation fund

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In April 2004, MICAHs Mission joined forces with
local government agencies, UGA,concerned
citizens and other local coalitions to form the
Northeast Georgia Childrens Environmental Health
Coalition
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Bringing it Home
Simple things you can do to reduce your exposure
include

• Use vinegar and lemon juice as natural cleaners
• Remove work clothes before entering the home and
  wash separately
• Remove your shoes at the door to reduce the
  amount of contaminants brought into your home

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Contact MICAHs Mission

• MICAHs Mission
• P.O. Box 275
• Winterville, Georgia 30683
• 706.742.7826 (p)
• 706.543.1799 (f)
• Micahsmission_at_aol.com

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References and Sources

• http//www.childrenscause.org/resources/fact_sheet
  .shtml
• Rural Roads, June 2004 Georgia Family Turns
  Sons Illness into Childrens Environmental
  Health Movement
• Unless otherwise noted, all photos were provided
  by MICAHs Mission or are public domain images.