Meet Mohammed: Employed Because of You!

A few weeks ago, we posted a message on our Facebook page:

One of our guests has just been offered a nursing job, but can't start until he has a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and glucometer with test strips for the home visits he'll be doing. Do you have any of these items that you'd be willing to part with to help our guest get back on his feet?

Within 30 minutes of posting that message, we had received a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, glucometer with test strips, and enough money to purchase some nursing uniforms for our guest. (A special thank you to the generous donors!)

Two weeks ago, we sat down with Mohammed, the guest who received these wonderful gifts, and told him about the generosity of the community that’s supporting him.

As Mohammed sat listening, tears began to pool in his eyes and eventually started to overflow.

I don’t know anyone here [in DC], and for people to reach out and help someone they don’t know is very overwhelming for me. I almost collapsed when the case managers gave me the supplies. I cannot believe how kind people are.

Mohammed's Story
Mohammed is 58 years old and an immigrant from Sierra Leone. He’s well-educated (with a Master’s degree and nursing license to his name) and hard-working (he’s had careers in teaching, the US Army and nursing).

As we sat down to chat, Mohammed received a call on his cell phone. One of his new co-workers was calling to update him on a patient Mohammed had visited the day before.

With the donated blood pressure cuff he received from a Miriam’s Kitchen supporter, Mohammed diagnosed his 84-year old client with dangerously high blood pressure and started him on life-saving medication. His co-worker was calling to tell him that the patient’s blood pressure was now stable and he was feeling better.

It’s a story not unlike Mohammed’s—a man struggling to survive but with the help of others, finds hope.

Mohammed first came to Miriam’s Kitchen a year ago. He had recently been laid off from his job at a nursing home and was homeless.

Our case managers worked with Mohammed to refine his resume, renew his nursing license and look for jobs.  He was becoming discouraged in his job search until one day a chance encounter with a sympathetic woman in McPherson Square led to a job offer. He just needed to find a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope and glucometer with test strips…

From Facebook on March 28, 2012:
I have an extra BP cuff!
I have a glucometer and strips!
If you don't have any folks with items to be reused I'd be happy to purchase one or more of the items (amazon has some good prices and can ship quickly).
        

Mohammed was given the items he needed two days after our message was posted on Facebook, and has been at his new job as a home health aide for nearly a month now.

What's Next
He’s still living in a homeless shelter, but is building up his savings to hopefully make it back to Sierra Leone at the end of the year to see his parents for the first time since 1980.  He’s also sending much of his earnings back home to help his family rebuild their war-torn lives. Once he’s helped his family build a home of their own, he said he’ll turn to finding a home for himself.

When asked what he wanted to say to the generous donors who came forward to jump-start his nursing career, Mohammed responded:

You really helped someone who needed you. I will be forever grateful.

Just as we are forever grateful for you.