Thread: Boy discovered to be an illegal immigrant during cancer trea

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Lupita Murillo Reports
Boy discovered to be an illegal immigrant during cancer treatment

Sep 14, 2007 06:18 PM PDT

A 12 year old boy is helping his family make tamales to raise money for chemotherapy treatments. He was diagnosed with Leukemia last month.

After four treatments, the hospital learned he was here illegally.

The family was told they would have to pay.

The family has been here for a decade. The boy wants to continue his treatments here.

The tamales they're making will be just a drop in the bucket for the $18 thousand needed to continue his treatment.

Univeristy Medical Center suggested the parents take his boy to Hermosillo, Mexico for care.

The father says he earns more money here. In Hermosillo he has no job and nowhere to live with family.

The cost of treatment in Hermosillo is $9 thousand up front.

The staff here at University Medical Center stabilized the boy. During the two weeks he spent in their care, he received four doses of chemotherapy.

Because of patient confidentiality, UMC can't discuss this case. They say immigration status doesn't matter when people come in for emergency care.

Once the patient is out of immediate danger, money becomes an issue.

Marty Enriquez, Vice President in charge of patient services, is also a nurse. She says, "Beyond the emergency room treatment and stabilizing the patient, I'm not sure there's much we can do. As a hospital we also have a lot of expenses. We have to provide medication, we have to provide equipment [and] the people that provide the care."

UMC says they've done all they can to help this family.

"It becomes very difficult with limited resources to provide care to everybody. And that's what's so hard about this."







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I definitely feel sad for the boy, but on the other hand, I'm happy that the hospital is treating the family just like every other American family that would be in the same situation. We don't get free chemotherapy treatment, and neither should he (or any other illegal).

Many many other American families have been in the same financial situation where they have no health insurance and have mounting medical bills to pay for a loved one. $19,000 is actually a lot less than I'd think cancer treatment would cost.

TexasGal

I definitely feel sad for the boy, but on the other hand, I'm happy that the hospital is treating the family just like every other American family that would be in the same situation. We don't get free chemotherapy treatment, and neither should he (or any other illegal).

Many many other American families have been in the same financial situation where they have no health insurance and have mounting medical bills to pay for a loved one. $19,000 is actually a lot less than I'd think cancer treatment would cost.

So do I,but I feel even sorrier for Americans in the same situation.

LaRaza just got 10 MILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS LET THEM PAY FOR IT.

Originally Posted by TexasGal

I definitely feel sad for the boy, but on the other hand, I'm happy that the hospital is treating the family just like every other American family that would be in the same situation. We don't get free chemotherapy treatment, and neither should he (or any other illegal).

Many many other American families have been in the same financial situation where they have no health insurance and have mounting medical bills to pay for a loved one. $19,000 is actually a lot less than I'd think cancer treatment would cost.

TexasGal

You're absolutely right TexasGal; and so is the hospital. For once I'm pleased to see a medical facility telling the truth. Medicaid will cover emergency services for illegals to the point of stabilizing the patient. I have no problem with that except for the fact that they are here illegally using the services. No one wants anyone to die. But over and over again I see illegals being treated throughout their entire illness, often for years. This needs to stop. They need to go home once they're stabilized. American taxpayers aren't obligated to pay for illegal aliens' health services. Mexico sure as heck doesn't do it for us!