A 21-year-old Chicago woman suffering from kidney failure says her brother may be her last hope at survival and she’s pleading with the U.S. government not to deport him.
“Is there time for me? I don’t know. I could die any day,” said Jazmin Longoria-Lara. “I’ve seen so many people pass away that started at the same time I started dialysis and they’re gone and it scares me.”
Longoria-Lara’s mother donated an organ to her daughter after a childhood disease resulted in kidney failure, but that kidney failed four years ago. Since then, she’s had to undergo dialysis for several hours, three times a week.
Longoria-Lara’s brother, 27-year-old Argenis, is a match and wants to donate to his sister, but he’s in custody and could be deported back to Mexico by the end of the week.
“I think that’s unfair, like how the system is,” Longoria-Lara said.
Her brother pleaded guilty to a burglary charge and his U.S. citizenship was revoked. The family hopes that his sister’s extreme circumstances will convince a judge to reconsider or delay the deportation until after she’s had the life-saving surgey.
“I know they’re humans,” said Martha Jeschke, Longoria-Lara’s aunt. “She doesn’t have that much time. It’s something we have to do soon.”
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Longoria-Lara’s heart is now enlarged and doctors say she’s also at risk of having a heart attack.
“Every hour that passes by, it’s critical to me,” she said.
Her brother is scheduled to appear in customs court in Chicago Friday for a hearing and possible deportation. The family plans to be at the hearing and hopes to change the judge’s mind.
