t was a quiet late September day on Mission Hill. The Mission Hill Health Movement Executive Director, was in her office on Tremont St when the bell rang. Mary Ann Nelson opened the door to a Mother, her Husband, and their 5 y.o. Son.
The family had moved to Mission Hill from Mexico, the previous month, looking for support for the birth process of their new infant. The Mother, who spoke excellent English, said they had gone to a local hospital but learned they needed to deposit a large sum of money to cover the cost of prenatal care and delivery before they could be seen.
They had walked by the building over the week-end and had seen the word “Health” on the outside. They hoped the MHHM was a clinic who could support the Mother, who was now 7 months pregnant, with the birth of their child.
Mary Ann called the MHHM Board Clerk, Carolina Cole Allen Suzazo who works for the Women’s Infant and Children (WIC) Program at the Whittier St Health Center for her advice on getting the family enrolled there. Carolina told Mary Ann to bring the Mom and family over to Whittier St where they could apply for MassHealth and get an appointment with the Midwife. The Family and Mary Ann walked to the health center. The Husband and Son went to play at the Southwest Corridor Park while the Mom and Mary Ann meet with Carolina who directed them on what to do. Within 2 hours, the Mother was meeting with the Whittier St. Midwife.
Unfortunately, the Midwife could not add them to her full schedule. She referred the Mother to the Obstetrics/Gynecology department of a major hospital which gave the Mother an appointment for the following week.
As they walked outside to meet her Husband and Son, the Mother expressed surprise at how many of the people at the health center were bi-lingual. She said how nice it was to complete most everything speaking Spanish. The family and Mary Ann walked back to the MHHM office. The Husband thanked her in Spanish and the whole family left.
Mary Ann wondered how the family was for several weeks. She got her answer in mid-October.
The Mother came to the MHHM office with a small gift for her, to thank her for her help. The Mother explained that due to complication with the fetus, the doctor had decided the child should be delivered by c-section later the next week. The baby would then go to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital. It faced several complicated surgeries, the Mother said.
The Mother was very happy about the care they received. Her doctor, being from South America, could speak Spanish with them allowing her Husband to understand everything.
That day, the Husband was waiting outside, in a car with their Son. The Mother told Mary Ann that a friend had lent it to them so they would be ready if she needed to get to the hospital in an emergency. She looked really happy as she left.
Mary Ann reported her activities at the next MHHM Board meeting. The Board Members were all happy that the organization was able to provide assistance in this situation. Carolina and Mary Ann prayed for the safe delivery of the child.
They learned the sad outcome from the Mother. She came to the MHHM office to reported that the infant, a son, had died at two weeks. His birth defects were far more severe than they had thought. He wasn’t able to have any of the planned operations. To focus all their attention on their infant son, the parents had the Mother’s Parents, who had come for the birth, take their 5 y.o. to other family members in the US. They were going to join him. But first they had to go the Church of Perpetual Help to get their Son’s baptismal certificate.
The Mother shared how she felt. She seemed really at peace with the outcome. She had done everything she could for her infant Son - even coming to a place with the best health care. The Mother said, her Son did more in his 12 days and affected more people than, some people do with a fifty- or seventy-year life.
Mary Ann gave her condolences to the parents. Mary Ann and the Mother embraced. Because she didn’t speak Spanish, Mary Ann hadn’t spoke much with the Husband. But, she turned to him to embrace him briefly. He grabbed her and embraced her for a few moments. The Family said good by and left.
Mary Ann called Carolina to tell her what happened to the child and family.
The Mission Hill Health Movement Staff and Board were extremely happy to be able to help this family. The Mother was able to give her Son his best chance. The total love of both parents for their infant Son allowed him to live a great live during his 12 days.
Happy Mother’s Day to this Mother and all Mothers.
The family had moved to Mission Hill from Mexico, the previous month, looking for support for the birth process of their new infant. The Mother, who spoke excellent English, said they had gone to a local hospital but learned they needed to deposit a large sum of money to cover the cost of prenatal care and delivery before they could be seen.
They had walked by the building over the week-end and had seen the word “Health” on the outside. They hoped the MHHM was a clinic who could support the Mother, who was now 7 months pregnant, with the birth of their child.
Mary Ann called the MHHM Board Clerk, Carolina Cole Allen Suzazo who works for the Women’s Infant and Children (WIC) Program at the Whittier St Health Center for her advice on getting the family enrolled there. Carolina told Mary Ann to bring the Mom and family over to Whittier St where they could apply for MassHealth and get an appointment with the Midwife. The Family and Mary Ann walked to the health center. The Husband and Son went to play at the Southwest Corridor Park while the Mom and Mary Ann meet with Carolina who directed them on what to do. Within 2 hours, the Mother was meeting with the Whittier St. Midwife.
Unfortunately, the Midwife could not add them to her full schedule. She referred the Mother to the Obstetrics/Gynecology department of a major hospital which gave the Mother an appointment for the following week.
As they walked outside to meet her Husband and Son, the Mother expressed surprise at how many of the people at the health center were bi-lingual. She said how nice it was to complete most everything speaking Spanish. The family and Mary Ann walked back to the MHHM office. The Husband thanked her in Spanish and the whole family left.
Mary Ann wondered how the family was for several weeks. She got her answer in mid-October.
The Mother came to the MHHM office with a small gift for her, to thank her for her help. The Mother explained that due to complication with the fetus, the doctor had decided the child should be delivered by c-section later the next week. The baby would then go to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital. It faced several complicated surgeries, the Mother said.
The Mother was very happy about the care they received. Her doctor, being from South America, could speak Spanish with them allowing her Husband to understand everything.
That day, the Husband was waiting outside, in a car with their Son. The Mother told Mary Ann that a friend had lent it to them so they would be ready if she needed to get to the hospital in an emergency. She looked really happy as she left.
Mary Ann reported her activities at the next MHHM Board meeting. The Board Members were all happy that the organization was able to provide assistance in this situation. Carolina and Mary Ann prayed for the safe delivery of the child.
They learned the sad outcome from the Mother. She came to the MHHM office to reported that the infant, a son, had died at two weeks. His birth defects were far more severe than they had thought. He wasn’t able to have any of the planned operations. To focus all their attention on their infant son, the parents had the Mother’s Parents, who had come for the birth, take their 5 y.o. to other family members in the US. They were going to join him. But first they had to go the Church of Perpetual Help to get their Son’s baptismal certificate.
The Mother shared how she felt. She seemed really at peace with the outcome. She had done everything she could for her infant Son - even coming to a place with the best health care. The Mother said, her Son did more in his 12 days and affected more people than, some people do with a fifty- or seventy-year life.
Mary Ann gave her condolences to the parents. Mary Ann and the Mother embraced. Because she didn’t speak Spanish, Mary Ann hadn’t spoke much with the Husband. But, she turned to him to embrace him briefly. He grabbed her and embraced her for a few moments. The Family said good by and left.
Mary Ann called Carolina to tell her what happened to the child and family.
The Mission Hill Health Movement Staff and Board were extremely happy to be able to help this family. The Mother was able to give her Son his best chance. The total love of both parents for their infant Son allowed him to live a great live during his 12 days.
Happy Mother’s Day to this Mother and all Mothers.
RSS Feed
