Posted on 12/06/2003 1:34:24 PM PST by yonif
Oscar Hernandez's parents are hoping a miracle - or congressional intervention - will keep them in America following their 5-year-old's death from leukemia.
Oscar died Nov. 24, nine months after receiving his brother's bone marrow in a transplant procedure. His case drew nationwide attention because Coloradans donated $400,000 for the procedure, which his illegal immigrant parents couldn't afford.
"The last thing I told him was to be free to fly wherever he wanted," Pedro Hernandez said Friday through an interpreter. "That I would be happy wherever he went."
Pedro and Susana Hernandez are illegal immigrants, but while Oscar was alive they were allowed to stay in their Westminster home on humanitarian probation through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
But that permission expires Tuesday, and unless it is extended, they'll have to pack up their old Chrysler minivan and drive to the border. From there, they'll go back to their hometown of Delicias in Chihuahua, where they have no house and no job prospects.
"It will disrupt the whole family" to leave and to pull older brother Jonathan out of third grade and younger sister Lupita out of pre-school, Susana Hernandez said.
The family lawyer, Ralph Torres, called the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Denver, asking for a six-month extension.
Tony Rouco, special agent in charge of the Denver office, said he'll need a formal request in writing.
Congress occasionally passes special bills to allow illegal immigrant families to stay, although that is rare, Torres said.
He will contact Colorado's delegation next week to stir interest in a special act of Congress.
"We have our backs against the wall," Torres said.
Spokespeople for most of Colorado's congressional delegation said they hadn't heard from the Hernandez family.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, isn't going to intervene on behalf of the family despite helping raise money for Oscar's treatment last year.
"We've done as much as we can for the child," said his spokesman Carlos Espinosa. "All we can do is offer them our prayers."
Pedro and Susana Hernandez say they came to America searching for a better life.
He got work as a carpenter, and she worked at a Wendy's. But in June, when they applied for an extension of the humanitarian probation, the paperwork got mixed up, and they were unable to get work authorizations, they said.
So, Susana Hernandez lost her job in August and her husband has only been able to make furniture at home.
Oscar had plenty of good days after the transplant, playing and accompanying the family to the store, his mother said.
Just before Thanksgiving, however, Oscar took a turn for the worse.
"He struggled so much and wanted so much to stay alive," Susana Hernandez said.
They stayed up all night with him that last night, saw him roll his eyes, take two deep breaths and then "that was it," Pedro Hernandez said.
"He was a very happy, lovely kid who always told us how much he loved us. I'm very thankful for the support and money that kept Oscar alive" for the extra nine months, he said.
Oscar, who wasn't able to return to school after the February transplant, came to the public's attention in part thanks to his kindergarten teacher, Glenda Wesley, at Fairview Elementary.
Last year, she sent an e-mail to parents and friends:
"I am desperate today. I have a little boy in my kindergarten class who needs a bone marrow transplant . . . It is his final hope for life. Private fund-raising is his only option now.
"His name is Oscar Hernandez," the e-mail continued. "He is 5 years old. And I love him. I was hoping you could send anything, even one dollar, and then forward this to everyone on your e-mail list, and then tell your churches, your prayer lists, your volunteer groups and everyone else who loves children."
Turns out there were thousands of people out there who loved children, who loved even a small, sick child from a foreign land.
And the kid died anyway. If the money had been spent on fighting malaria, hundreds -maybe thousands of lives could have been saved. There are so many people who just don't think when they donate. Instead they go for the 'feel-good' publicity splashes.
Make it a 10 month extension. That'll give 'em enough time to conceive of some other solution to their dilemma.
I guess the need for help depends on the receiver though. If it was my child, I would fight the odds. I do what I can but my priorites might not be someone elses, which is ok though.
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