So, if I am gonna share stories about kitchen staff I have worked with, I must share about a busboy named Salvador. I must say that his is a story that is difficult to tell, mainly because I feel I could have done more. Salvador is a great guy who happen to be the victim of some horrible circumstances. Let me also preface this story by stating I am no medical doctor, just connecting the dots from different clues that have been relayed to me. On with the story...
Salvador ended up in the ER a few months ago. Among his symptoms; pneumonia, total kidney failure, and a slew of other malfunctions relating to these issues. I heard that he was in the hospital, and set some time aside to see him. The severity of his condition was not relayed to me at first. When I arrived at the ER, one of the nurses said "He must be here for a reason, in my many years in this place, I have never seen someone survive with this low of a kidney function. Had it been even a couple hours later, he probably would have died."
I was shocked! At first to hear that he was that close to death, and second to hear that the nurse kinda openly hinted towards God playing a role. I know medical professionals have spiritual beliefs, I just had never heard them being shared in that way. Dialysis was the immediate cure, but what would his long term cure be? That was my first and most troubling question. After news of his story spread at work, a collection was taken and to the best of my memory a few hundred dollars was collected. In fact I remember sharing his story with a generous regular of ours and him handing me a $100 bill and demanding that I give that to Salvador.
After a 2 week stay and admittance to Medicare, he was released from the hospital. He was to go to dialysis twice a week. Things looked great! Then came the paper mess, which I am sure was not helped with the fact that Salvador is not "properly documented."
I want to take some time here, cause I think some folks might be thinking, he should just pack his bags and go back home. I really can't imagine what has gone on in Salvador's mind. First, he lived to fulfill his selfLESS dream of coming to the U.S. to provide for his family back home in Mexico. Ask any 20 something American teenager how important it is that THEY provide for their parents and other siblings and you can see the difference in cultures. Not only did Salvador want to provide for his family, he went to extraordinary lengths to do so. Risking death just to get here. Then living in conditions that were humble at best. And then to the 70, sometimes 80 hour workweek that took more energy than even a healthy teenager might have. All this, while never complaining about "days off," "boring mondays," or "when is the next vacation?" Salvador lives as if it is an honor and privlege to live and to serve his family the best way he can, which is to work.
Except now, Salvador can't work anymore. Like I mentioned above, I often thought, why not just go back to Mexico? I remember talking with one of his closest friends at work. I posed that question, and he responded by saying he wanted to get back to work. Here was a man, who needs dialysis to stay alive, and was barely able to get that, whose soul wish was to work again. I put myself in Salvador's shoes for a moment. Imagining for a few minutes, the brutal journey here, the long weeks that turned to months and years. The satisfaction of sending thousands of dollars back home to his mom and other family. I then understood why he was still here.
This is supposed to be about serving. But like I mentioned above, I don't really feel good about how I have served Salvador. Sure, I got him a Cross necklace, and visited him quite a few times in the hospital. Sad to say, it's been a couple months since I have spoken with Salvador. I do check with his friends who still work with us often on his status. They say he is ok, just not covered for dialysis, so they have to wait til he gets sick to take him to the hospital.
One way I have thought about serving Salvador, is serving some tables! You might think I'm crazy, but here is what I was thinking. To advertise with friends and church family about a night I would wait tables and ALL my tips would benefit Salvador. The idea being, he wants to work to take home some money to his family, and if we were able to provide him some, maybe he might consider going home. Mind you, I think he can receive adequate care back in Mexico, but am not sure. I think being around his mother and other close family members would be great for him. I sure would want to be around my family when dealing with the stuff he is.
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