Unauthorized Immigrant Seeks Lifesaving Surgery
Gustavo Rodriguez Family's Only Breadwinner
Amanda Lewis, KCCI.com
POSTED: 4:46 pm CDT June 5, 2009
UPDATED: 6:05 pm CDT June 5, 2009


DES MOINES, Iowa -- A Des Moines family said Friday that they're losing their only breadwinner because they can't afford an expensive surgical procedure.

Gustavo Rodriguez, 29, is dying. He's also an unauthorized immigrant and his doctor said his immigration status might be his death sentence.

Rodriguez doesn't speak English and his family will tell you up front that he is not a citizen of the U.S. His wife, daughter and three stepchildren are citizens. Before he became ill, he brought home the family's only paycheck.

"It's really hard for him because he used to work really, really hard," said Mindy Rodriguez.

Doctors said Gustavo's brain is pressing on his spine and he can't feel his left side. They said without surgery he'll become completely paralyzed and die.

Family said Rodriquez needs a surgery he can't get in Mexico and he can't afford here.

"It's definitely a problem where surgery to prevent progressive paralysis or death is better early than late," said Mindy Rodriguez.

Iowa law extends emergency care to unauthorized immigrants. There is only one doctor in Iowa who can perform the surgery, but the University of Iowa Hospitals said they don't consider Gustavo's condition an emergency yet.

"Basically they're waiting until he's halfway dead before they help him," said Mindy Rodriguez.

Waiting may put him in a wheel chair for life.

It's frustrating to West Des Moines Dr. Jose Angel who helped make Gustavo's original diagnosis and sees both sides of the policy argument.

"There is excellent research in Iowa and elsewhere that preventable health care, even for undocumented workers or completely uninsured patients saves, money," said Angel.

Angel said the cost of waiting for an emergency is much higher -- in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per person.

"If you treat them though will you become a haven for undocumented people who are sick?" said Angel.

It's been a difficult question for a nation with an estimated 11.7 million unauthorized immigrants.

Rodriguez can't wait for an answer.

"We just want the hospital to help him if they will. We're begging and we'll do whatever we have to do. Whatever," said Mindy Rodriguez.

The University of Iowa doctor qualified to perform the surgery has waived his fee for the 12-hour procedure.

Mindy said the University of Iowa hospital has decreased the cost of the surgery from $300,000 to $100,000, but she said it's still way out of the family's reach.

The hospital had no comment for KCCI on the case.

The PEW Hispanic center estimates there are between 55,000 and 85,000 unauthorized immigrants living in Iowa.


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