A mother had carried her two-year old more than 1,600 miles from her native Guatemala to the United States border in Texas before continuing another 900 miles to Chicago. I met them in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. With the assistance of the burn unit social worker, who served as the Spanish interpreter, Cielo shared a small portion of their story.
The burn unit social worker then informed me that the child’s discharge was pending; however, due to their recent arrival in Chicago neither had appropriate clothing for the awaiting winter weather. After ascertaining their clothing needs, the burn unit social worker and I left the hospital for the nearest Target store. We returned a short time later with winter boots, socks, undergarments, and hygiene items for each and a few additional clothing items for the child. A suitcase was also purchased to ensure that the mother could properly secure and transport their possessions.
The ability to address the immediate needs of this mother and her daughter, and other food and housing insecure individuals, is the reason our Samaritan Backpack Ministry was created and continues to be a vital ministry to address the needs of persons most in need in our community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making your gift to Bishop Anderson House so that stories like these can continue to have a happy ending.
You can make a year-end gift here.
