Thread: Family Wants To Know Why Woman Is In A Coma

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_103114304.html

Apr 13, 2006 10:38 am US/Central

Family Wants To Know Why Woman Is In A Coma

Bridgette Bornstein
Reporting

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(WCCO) St. Paul A young woman in a coma is likely dying and her family fears she could have been saved.

Maria Inamagua, 30, fell and hurt herself last week. Her relatives said she didn't get the help she needed because she's an illegal immigrant and was locked in jail.

Doctors told Maria Inamagua's family that it's unlikely she'll survive.

Loved ones don't make excuses for how Inamagua lived her life. She is an illegal immigrant.

"She was also a really good woman," said Inamagua's husband, Patricio Flores. "We just want justice for this."

While awaiting deportation to Ecuador, Inamagua was held at the Ramsey County Jail.

Last week, she fell from an upper bunk, hit her head and complained of a headache.

"They didn't give her the medical attention that she needed right away," said Martha Urgiles, Inamagua's cousin.

Health Department officials said Inamagua was evaluated promptly in jail and taken to the hospital.

"It appears all of the staff followed all of the proper protocol and got her transported when it was appropriate to the hospital," said St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Health Director Rob Fulton.

Inamagua's injuries were more than just a bump on the head. The family said doctors later discovered that a parasite had attacked Inamagua's brain. Regardless of whether that caused the fall or put Inamagua in a coma, her family thinks quicker action at the jail could have saved her.

The family's fight comes as immigration reform is a hot topic.

Inamagua planned to be at last weekend's rally in St. Paul, fighting for changes in the law. Instead, her family now rallies around her.

"We are just praying to God and you know hoping that there will be a miracle," said Urgiles.

Inamagua has received some high-profile attention. Archbishop Harry Flynn told the crowd at last weekend's rally that what happened to Inamagua should never happen again.

Her family thinks immigrants should not be held so long in jail, but immigration officials say she broke the law and this is how they enforce it.

It's sad.....but my first thought was where did the parisite come from? All the more reason to have stringent immigration rules. Are we responsible for every ailment they bring into this country that we don't know about? And then sad that this is yet another criminal martyr for their cause. Weaknesses in the jail system are another topic.