Dorothy
She looked so fragile and helpless. I was told she didn’t even speak English. Olga and her family had come from Puerto Rico to receive the expert medical care that was unavailable in her own country.
I was working in the intensive care unit of our local children’s hospital, as one of Olga’s nurses. I couldn’t help but think how frightened this little girl must feel with all those scary tubes, machines and monitors around her. When she opened her eyes, she was incredibly beautiful and smiling back at me with big brown eyes.
When her mother arrived early the next morning, she said to me, “My husband must return to Puerto Rico. He needs to go back to work. I’ll stay here, near Olga, with her sister and brother, so she can get the medical help she needs to stay alive.” As we talked, I discovered that Olga’s mother was the only one in her household who spoke English.
The family had been staying at the Ronald McDonald House but would soon need to move into more permanent housing. Since they didn’t have anyone else to help them set up housekeeping, I volunteered.
As I attempted to help get an apartment for Olga’s family. I was told, “It’s impossible. The child’s mother isn’t working, and her father doesn’t even live in this country.”
After I told this story to some of my nurse friends, one of them contacted our local newspaper. One columnist promised he would write their story, but added, “This will be my last column of this sort. These stories just don’t sell papers anymore.”
That’s when Becky, our determined angel, arrived. She was a vibrant, talkative and charming volunteer. We talked, and immediately she had some excellent ideas. As we concluded our conversation, she said, “Oh, by the way, I have cancer, but I’m under treatment.”
Despite her condition, Becky took charge. She not only found housing for Olga and her family, but also helped with everything else they need. I asked myself, how could this woman do so much when she had such difficulties of her own?