Volunteer translator taken for granted

Rosalva G., 41, has been in the United States longer than many of her relatives. Mexican-born, she is a naturalized citizen who works as a dealer at a Strip hotel.

Because her English skills are advanced compared to some of her family members, she often assists as a translator in important situations. Recently, she was present when a sister-in-law gave birth at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Maggie G., the sister-in-law, and her husband, who are illegal immigrants, do not have health insurance, but are paying for the childbirth on a payment plan.

Maggie was having her second child. When she started crying as she received an epidural, a nurse commented in English that she shouldn't cry because the medical care in the United States is better than in Mexico.

Rosalva said she translated the remark for Maggie, who then responded that she had received good care when she delivered the couple's firstborn child in Mexico, which Rosalva translated back. In fact, their firstborn received several months of hospital intensive care after birth.

After the nurse realized that Rosalva understood English, she acted more kindly to Maggie, Rosalva believes.

The new mom required a Caesarean section, which lengthened her hospital stay. When Rosalva later went back to visit, she encountered another nurse in the hallway, who asked Rosalva in an annoyed voice why she hadn't been there 20 minutes earlier, when her translation services had again been needed.

"Maybe she was nice" and just frustrated at the language barrier that separated her from her patient, Rosalva says of the nurse.