I was an immigrant child with a tumor. Doctors saved my life, but that access could be halted

As I celebrate my recognition as an outstanding leader by The Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 under 40 honorees for 2024, we must pause and reflect on how I got to this point.

Especially as a Mexican national who was brought into the country unlawfully as a child, where my immigration status didn’t obstruct access to vital medical care.

That point is not lost on me — and it shouldn’t on any Arizonan — as state lawmakers are now contemplating punitive measures against that valuable segment of our community that contributes to the richness of the state and country.

Under current state and federal law, undocumented residents are not eligible for local, state or federal benefits. However, federal law guarantees access for emergency care.

But Republican legislators are advancing House Concurrent Resolution 2060, which would charge undocumented Arizonans a Class 6 felony if they knowingly submit false documents. It'll deter immigrants from seeking care and put in jeopardy those with serious health conditions.

I had a critical health care as a boy

I can testify to how important emergency health care is.

I migrated to the U.S. with my mother and three older siblings through Nogales without inspection when I was 6.

An active child, I often got injured — breaking both hands while wrestling cousins and friends, falling from trees and spraining ankles. My mother would try to heal me at home, turning to a curandera (healer) if necessary.

For serious injuries like when I broke my hands, we waited until my uncle, a legal permanent resident, could take me to the hospital.

We feared seeking help due to our immigration status, waiting for someone with legal status to accompany us to avoid potential deportation.

Severe stomach pains turned out to be a tumor

In fourth grade, I started experiencing severe stomach pains that kept me in bed all day. Concerned, my mom took me to a local curandera for help.

Despite crying through the session, the pain persisted. The curandera advised seeking traditional medical care.

However, several clinics denied me treatment due to a lack of insurance and lawful immigration status.

I took random home remedies and eventually got well enough to return to school.

However, I began to lose weight, my face progressively got paler, and the tumor began to grow.

Teacher, social worker helped my mom

To me, it was all normal. But Mr. Madrid, my teacher, noticed my appearance changing. He sent me to the school nurse. She felt the lemon-sized ball in my stomach.

Worried about my health, she connected my mother with a local social worker who knew how I could get help.

I underwent studies and took X-rays at the local Maricopa Integrated Clinic. When the technicians saw the now orange-size ball in my stomach, their faces were shocked.

The social worker told my mom that they needed to go through several steps before they could operate.

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I needed to be in “immediate life danger” before I could have the tumor removed. My mom cried every hospital visit.

I always cheered her on. I told her it was going to be OK. I was a good kid and student, and God wouldn’t let me die.

Thankfully, doctors at Maricopa County Hospital removed the tumor, now the size of a melon, without extensive internal cutting, confirming it was noncancerous.

Border bill will stop migrants from getting care

Only years later did I realize the blessing of having a mother who fought for my survival and the privilege of residing in a state where my immigration status didn’t affect access to vital medical care.

We know what is going to happen should HCR 2060 pass.

Undocumented parents of U.S. citizens will be afraid of seeking and receiving public benefits from the government.

More than 140,000 children who live in mixed-status families will likely not receive the services they need.

I worry about the present-day versions of little me, whose lives will be at risk, and the mothers who don’t know if they can seek help.

I hope today’s lawmakers can find that moral clarity and courage.

I don’t know if I would be here if those past leaders put party politics over human life, as HCR 2060 intends to, by creating fear in the mixed immigration status community.

Jose Patiño is vice president of education and external affairs for Aliento, which serves undocumented, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and mixed immigration status families. Reach him at jose@alientoaz.org; on X, formerly Twitter, @jrpatino12.  

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GOP border bill will risk lives of migrants with health emergencies