A Reassuring Voice and a Healthy Baby
Through the Hispanic Health Advocacy program, many low-income Spanish speaking individuals in Allen County have found support, quality medical interpretation, and transportation services. In Sofia’s case, it was a lifesaving program.
At five months pregnant, Sofia moved to the United States with her two daughters and her husband for a better life. After services ended at another nonprofit, Sofia was referred to Catholic Charities' Hispanic Health Advocacy program for ongoing pregnancy care.
“When I began working with Sofia, I was so scared for her high-risk pregnancy. I was grateful to provide transportation and medically-trained interpretation services so the baby had the best chance possible at being healthy.”
By the time the Hispanic Health Advocate (HHA) started seeing Sofia, she was seven months pregnant and, from an ultrasound, learned that she had a high-risk pregnancy. Sofia's baby had gastroschisis; meaning the baby had a hole in its abdominal wall and could result in the intestines growing outside of the body. It was crucial Sofia attended all her appointments for additional monitoring. She had missed many appointments before the HHA’s involvement due to lack of transportation. The HHA stayed in contact with the hospital’s social worker and nurses, letting them know the HHA would be helping with interpretation and transportation services. The HHA sat down with the nurse and together scheduled out transportation for Sofia’s remaining prenatal appointments.
Once she started getting help from the program, the HHA saw Sofia twice per week and attended all Sofia's appointments leading up to her due date. The HHA not only supported Sofia, but also provided the expert medical interpretation needed for this complex case.
Because of the severity of the baby’s health, the physician wanted Sofia to relocate to Indianapolis before the delivery. Unfortunately, the HHA couldn’t help with transportation to Indianapolis, but Catholic Charities was able to help with gas cards so that other family members could drive Sofia. The HHA was able to get connected with the hospital in Indianapolis and spoke with a social worker to get Sofia set up with transportation services available through the hospital.
The HHA kept in contact with Sofia by phone while she was in Indianapolis and after she gave birth to a baby girl. Immediately following birth, Sofia’s daughter had to have surgery.
Now thriving, the HHA is helping Sofia and her baby get to post-surgery medical appointments so she grows up happy and healthy.
Funded by
Funded in part by a grant from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, the Hispanic Health Advocate program was created to serve those in our diocese who need Spanish interpretation services in all vital areas of healthcare.
The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, exists to steward resources that strengthen, improve, and sustain long-term community health in Allen County, Indiana. They invest in and collaborate with other community agencies to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the poor and underserved.
Thank you to the foundation for making this story possible.