AKRON, Ohio — In November 2019, Maricela Daza's life had turned upside down. Her house in Youngstown caught fire with her newborn son, Domingo, inside. Daza ran into the burning home to save him.

Domingo was taken to the hospital badly burned, and soon flown to Akron Children’s Hospital.

“When we got to the hospital after the accident we came via helicopter and I, well he did, and I came a few moments after and the idea that I was worried about was whether or not I was going to have an interpreter,” Daza said through an interpreter. 

Originally from Chile, Daza only speaks Spanish. She was worried she wouldn't be able to explain to the hospital staff what had happened, and what was wrong with her son.

“To my surprise, I got here and there was an interpreter and she was from my same country,” said Daza. “I just felt so much less worried. I felt so good knowing that I had her there. I could express what had happened within all of that chaos and all the drama of the situation.” 

Now more than three years since the fire, Domingo continues treatment using the interpretation services at Akron Children’s Hospital. 

“We are vital for our families, our non-English-speaking families,” said Roula Brady, who oversees interpretation services at the hospital.

She said the services provide health equity, allowing all families, regardless of what language they speak, to receive quality care.

“It's very, very important to make the patient comfortable, make them feel welcome, and give them that opportunity to understand what the doctor is saying,” she said.

Being comfortable is exactly what Daza needed in the midst of chaos. 

“I must say that it was an excellent interpretation. It was, you know, as a mother and as a human being, it meant so much to have that,” said Daza.