As an interpreter, you have a real impact on the lives of patient families. You make people feel safer and show them that they matter, even if they don’t speak English. You reassure them that it won’t have an impact on their child’s treatment.

I became an interpreter because I used to translate for my mom at her doctor's appointments and saw how much it helped her.

During the holiday season, I don’t “bring the magic” — I make a bridge for the magic to go over it.

We are bridges not just for the language between families and providers but for the emotion and spirit of everything that our team members are trying to accomplish for patient families.

As an interpreter, I don’t just translate the words. I interpret the emotion. I interpret the inflection. I interpret everything you are trying to tell the person. You can say, “We really care for you, and we did this for you.” But it doesn’t mean as much if you don’t have the emotion behind the words.

There was a mom during the holidays last year. Her child was sick and Child Life specialists came in with gifts for the family. One of the team members said to the mom, “I wish we had as many gifts for the adults as we do the children.”

But the mom said, “You brought my gift,” and pointed at me. She explained that this was her first time in the U.S., and coming to the hospital, she was terrified she wouldn’t be able to understand. But she said having an in-person interpreter in the room with her was her gift.

That felt amazing. It made me tear up to know that my presence could have that kind of impact.