Become an advocate...

I spent this morning in the Intensive Care Unit of a large county hospital in Denver. I accompanied a refugee friend whose wife was taken ill and rushed to hospital. While her husband was at work, and speaking next to no English, she dialed 911. The ambulance came for her and it was good they did. After emergency surgery she is now laid up in ICU for the next 3-4 days. In the country the family came from she would have most likely died.

He was glad to have me there as his advocate, and the hospital staff were glad to have me explain things to him. They just lost a child and I was with the husband whilst the awful news sunk in. He was distressed, yet looked upon his sick wife with care and great concern.

Proverbs 31:8 tells us to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." This is what it means to be an advocate for refugees who are overwhelmed and afraid when a medical emergency bears down on them in a strange country.

The wife will recover and thankfully MediCare will cover the otherwise crippling medical costs, but there are many others like my friend and his family who need our help.

Will you become an advocate today for someone in your community?

Blessings,

Steve Neill
President / Executive Director, CoAid