A flagger worker was hit by a car. He suffered a broken arm and leg. I was called in to interpret for this patient. Eventually, the doctor determined that surgery would be needed to install a metal brace to keep a leg bone in place. Surgery was scheduled at an outpatient surgery center which required my services as a medical interpreter. Unlike the hospital, they had no interpreter.

I interpreted the entire pre-surgery process. Before the patient was wheeled into surgery, an anesthesiologist appeared and explained that he would administer an epidural nerve block to help with pain. There, when the injured worker awakes, the pain would be minimal. It would be a while before feeling would return to his leg.

Once surgery was completed, I was called. Apparently, the facility was shorthanded and frenzied, so the nerve block never occurred. The patient was screaming in agony and shouting some very colorful language. At first, I understood al of the vulgarities spewing out of his mouth. But then he looked at me with a touch of embarrassment and suddenly, I could not understand what he was saying.

It seems he began using colorful phrases unique to his region of Mexico. I remembered having previously purchased a glossary that contained vulgarities from many different regions. The problem was that I didn’t have access to it. So, I found myself texting Emily for the definition of quite a few words. It was quite educational and revealing.

As time passed, he continued to cry out in pain. The nurses continued administering more and more pain medication to no avail. Finally, the anesthesiologist arrived and realized that the maximum amount of medication had already been given to the patient. He decided to administer more in order to do the nerve block.

Because they were understaffed, I was instructed to keep the patient awake since he was given an overdose. The patient could not be allowed to sleep, so I was told to keep talking, yell at him, or even shake him if need be. I could not let him fall asleep. His life depended on it.

Let me just say that asking me to do this went far beyond the scope of healthcare interpreting. However, I had no choice. The medical staff made it clear to me that it was a matter of life and death. I was scared! I dutifully continued to keep him awake for what seemed like an eternity until the medical staff advised me it was safe to stop.

I was angry that

• The facility was shorthanded that day
• The nerve block wasn’t done during surgery
• The medical staff lost track of the dosage and endangered his life
• I was thrust into such a terrible, unnecessary crisis.

Later in recovery, the patient apologized for his colorful language. He explained that when he realized I was there, out of respect, he chose words unfamiliar to me. I then replied with the definitions of those words. In shock, he wondered how in the world I knew them. I described that as a professional interpreter, it is my job to understand the meaning of words and look them up if I don’t know. In the end, everything was fine. Saving someone’s life was gratifying. I hope it never happens again.