2012 Farmworker Project

I´ve just returned from my annual pilgrimage to South Georgia to work as an interpreter for the South Georgia Farmworker Health Project. I spent two weeks helping PA students with Emory University to communicate with patients who spoke only Spanish (or sometimes, a Native American language, and Spanish second). Every year, this time serves to remind me a couple of things, and this year was no different.




The People



The PA students and their support team of doctors and instructors was exceptional, as always. It's always a privilege to watch them adapt to the new surroundings of the fields, pick up their chairs and equipment, and just serve people who need to be cared for.



Every year I'm struck by the humility and drive of the folks who are picking vegetables for our dinner tables. This year I met several interesting folks; some were in good shape physically and mentally, and others were needy in one or the other of those areas. I met a man who found out for the first time that he has a heart murmur. After years of drinking heavily, he has cut back recently, and was genuinely surprised to know he had a potentially dangerous problem with his heart. He was fairly young and works extremely hard, like all the workers we see, and seemed to understand the risk. Another had an irregular heartbeat; also just discovered the problem for the first time. When shown the "strange" heartbeats on the EKG, he quickly scanned the document, read it like a pro, and identified the two "strange" heartbeats that he had. The provider quickly reminded him of the seriousness of the problem (because of two anomalies) and drove the point home that he needed to see a clinic doctor asap. Field work is odd in that there are severe limitations on what can be done when a real problem is uncovered. We have to count on patients to do their own follow up with other providers, or take them to the Emergency Room. Neither seems to be the best thing to do, but you do what you can.



A 61 year old man found out for the first time that he suffered from severe diabetes, and that he already had kidney damage. I always remember how folks look when they find out they are "sick", but sometimes I see them again next year, and see how they "aguantar", or "deal with it". And they do.



This year I met a former army Sargent, retired after 22 years. At 49, he admitted that nothing he did in the military prepared him for the difficulty of the work he had to do here. He wasn't sure he would renew his visa to return in the September picking season, but he has a wife and children back home and probably will have no other choice. Then there was the army officer, the former chief of security for the State Department of a Central American country. Years ago, after a political change in his country, he was forced to flee to the US as a refugee. After a month of starving on the West Coast, he came South to work in the fields picking vegetables. He now has his own successful business in construction and is looking forward to retiring soon and returning home to take it easy.



As usual, there were some folks I met who broke my heart. My new friend that I'll call Jose, had some pretty normal issues physically, but confided that he's having a hard time holding it together. Back home, his wife just underwent serious surgery, using up the money he'd saved to build a house back there, and 4 other close family members were dying of cancer. His family, when they are able to talk, cry and depend on him for encouragement. He said he gives them that, tells them that everything will be ok, that God will help them. When he hangs up, he said, "I have a hole in my heart right here that hurts, and I don't know what to do". When asked if God would come to his aid, he quickly answered "YES, even though sometimes I doubt it and get angry with Him, I believe He will help me". I got the privelege of helping (interpreting) him through a session with an onsite mental health provider who was able to give him some things to think about and help him redirect his great anxiety.



A mother of six is all alone in a trailer park after her husband has been deported after a traffic violation. She has no money for food or rent. It was painful to see her walk away knowing that we couldn't do quite enough to help her find the resources she needs. Even harder to know she would be denied services from the state if she sought them.



For the average laborer from Mexico, at home they have the chance to earn about $10 a day, but are able to earn $8 or $9 an hour here. That's the high range of earning. Tomato pickers, for example, might earn .45 to .65 (yes, thats CENTS) per 35 pound bucket of tomatoes they pick. It makes much sense to them to survive by sending money home, saving it until they can afford to build a home and have their own place, and return to the land they love.



Taxes and the Undocumented-Michael's Soapbox



We had lots of good conversations this trip. We agreed that it's too bad the the plight of the undocumented worker is most often exactly the opposite of the perception that most folks have, and make judgments on. The truth is that most undocumented workers pay income taxes. Many have SS Numbers, whether authentic or not, and taxes are deducted from every check they receive. They, of course, pay sales taxes when they shop. But they all are actually denied services for health care, mental health care, social services by the state and have to depend on charity organizations to help them. Their children born in our country, do have access to medical care through Medicaid.



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I always end up in a state of grace after serving these folks every year. Suddenly I am grateful for what I have and cognizant of what I think I need that I don't need. I am encouraged, every time, by the drive and determination of the human spirit, and I return knowing that we all are able to accomplish much more than we're even willing to attempt to do. I hope one day I'm able to be consistent in remembering the lessons that I learn and see significant change in myself as a result. I hope it's this year that this happens.