As of late I have spent a tremendous amount of time in hospitals and nursing homes. I very quickly discovered that almost all of the caregivers… Please not the intentional use of “almost all”… Are African. RNs CNAs, techs, aids, flabodimists, breathing specialists, and on and on…. African. These highly skilled, friendly beautiful people are here taking care of people who are arguably much better off than their family and friends back home, at least financially. As I sat in the hospital trying to ensure that my 94 year old grandfather got the kind of care he deserves, I had to wonder what these ladies and gentlemen were thinking. The truth is that no matter how much money you have at one time or another your body will betray you and no amount of money will save you from what all of us must face. However, knowing as I do that there are many people in Africa lucky to survive ailments that we don’t even think about here in the US, I wonder what kind of internal battle these caregivers go through. Clearly, working here in the US offers immigrant workers more financial reimbursement than they will get in their home countries, but at the same time they are as aware as I am; if not more aware; of the value of their skills back at home. When the needs are so great, and the decision to go back home and serve that need means such a tremendous sacrifice… How can they balance their needs versus the needs of their homeland? How can this sector of the African diaspora serve their homeland and still be compensated for their particular skills? How can they give back and keep what they have worked so hard to earn?