Community October 01, 2008
The Interpreter of Maladies
After giving more than 20,000 hours of service as a YNHH volunteer, 92-year old Luisa McCann could be forgiven if she thought about taking it easy. “I think maybe today is my last day,” she says thoughtfully. Then she stops to consider the question some more. “I don’t know. It’s difficult for me to stay home. I don’t like to sit and do nothing. I like to come here, because my work is so satisfying.”
Luisa has been a part of the YNHH family since 1984. Soon after coming on board, she received an emergency call from a doctor to see a certain patient, a Puerto Rican man who had been hospitalized for three months for a kidney transplant. He was being discharged that afternoon, but couldn’t understand the instruction booklet for his care at home because it was in English. “Can you imagine, for three months he couldn’t make his needs known and he couldn’t understand what was being said to him? He had asked several times for a priest and never saw one because no one could understand his request,” she recalls, shaking her head.
Luisa realized that even if she read the booklet to him, it would be too much information to retain. She decided to take it home to translate. Afterwards, she spread the word that she was willing to work as an interpreter and translator, and in so doing, gave birth to the interpreter program. “I saw a tremendous need, and I did what my heart and head told me. How can a doctor or nurse care for a patient when they can’t communicate?” she exclaims.
From then on, it was full-steam ahead. She translated medical texts and pamphlets, and interpreted for patients. She worked regular hours and was on call for emergency situations. Her perseverance made a large difference in the lives of Spanish-speaking patients. “When I showed up, they thought I was an angel. Think about it—you’re sick, you’re scared, it’s your life and health but you can’t be understood. Can anything be worse than that?” she asks.
Through her example, Luisa laid the groundwork for Interpreter Services, and what began with her dedication as a volunteer interpreter has now grown into a department with 20 full-time employees. YNHH now boasts one of the nation’s foremost translation services with key documents and educational materials available in multiple languages.
Jeannette Hodge, director of patient relations, volunteer and interpreter services at YNHH, is grateful for the chance to know and work with Luisa. “She is an incredible person who has dedicated her time and skill to serve those whose first language is Spanish. Her unselfish service to patients and their families has been exemplary,” she says.
A member of the YNHH Auxiliary, Luisa has served as secretary and member of the executive board. She was also awarded the American Hospital Association’s Auxiliary Health Care Award for outstanding volunteer service as an interpreter.
Luisa is glad to have made a difference in patients’ lives. “It has given me so much pleasure and made me a different and better person. I have learned so much.”
And as for retirement? Well, don’t count her out just yet.
Article originally appeared in the Fall 2008 issue of Impact Magazine (Pages 6)
http://www.ynhh.org/develop/ImpactFall08.pdf
