A father of three from Victorville lies in a medically induced coma in a severely underequipped Mexican hospital while his desperate family battles bureaucratic red tape and massive financial hurdles to bring him home for lifesaving care.
Key Takeaways
- Manuel Contreras, 47, suffered two strokes while vacationing in Cancun and is now in a medically induced coma at a general hospital lacking proper equipment and resources.
- The cost to transport Manuel back to the United States for proper medical care is approximately $30,000, which the family cannot afford.
- Manuel’s insurance, Medi-Cal, is not accepted by Mexican hospitals that could provide adequate treatment for his condition.
- The family has received no assistance from their congressman or the U.S. embassy despite multiple attempts to reach out for help.
- The community is rallying behind the family with a GoFundMe page and a fundraising raffle event scheduled for June 6 at Bombshells Bar & Grill in Victorville.
American Father Stranded in Inadequate Foreign Healthcare System
What was meant to be a week-long vacation with a friend has turned into a nightmare for Manuel Contreras and his family. The 47-year-old Victorville father suffered a small stroke while in Cancun, Mexico, followed by a larger, more devastating stroke just two days later. Now in critical condition, Manuel has been placed in a medically induced coma at a general hospital in Mexico that lacks the necessary equipment and resources to properly treat his condition. His dire situation highlights the dangers Americans face when traveling abroad and the inadequate healthcare systems in many foreign countries compared to the United States.
“My dad, he’s probably the most hardworking, most active person I know. He was going to be gone for a week and it was just to spend time with his friend,” said Gabriel Contreras, Manuel’s son.
Making matters worse, Manuel has developed a respiratory infection while in the hospital’s care, creating an even more urgent need to transport him back to the United States. The family has been told that flying him to Houston would cost approximately $30,000 – just to get him into the country for proper treatment. It’s a devastating example of how American citizens often receive inadequate care and little government support when facing medical emergencies in foreign countries, despite paying taxes their entire lives.
Struggle Against Foreign Healthcare Limitations
The hospital where Manuel is currently being treated has essentially given up on providing meaningful care, instead relying on the induced coma as their only option. “At the general hospital, they don’t have the adequate funding or equipment to treat him there, so they’re just putting him into an induced coma and hoping his body heals,” explained Ralene Contreras, Manuel’s daughter.
The family quickly discovered that Manuel’s insurance, Medi-Cal, is not accepted by any Mexican hospitals that could provide the level of care he desperately needs. This situation highlights a critical failure in America’s insurance and healthcare systems, which leave citizens vulnerable when traveling abroad. While billions in taxpayer dollars are spent providing healthcare to illegal immigrants within our borders, American citizens like Manuel are left stranded without support in foreign countries despite having paid into the system their entire lives.
Government Abandonment and Community Response
Perhaps most troubling is the complete lack of assistance from government officials who should be advocating for an American citizen in crisis. The family has reached out multiple times to their local congressman and the U.S. embassy but has received no response whatsoever. This abandonment by elected officials and government agencies stands in stark contrast to the swift action often taken to assist non-citizens and foreign nationals within our borders. Instead, it’s the local community that has stepped up to help where the government has failed.
“Flying him to Houston will cost about $30,000 to get him just into the States to get treated,” said Ralene Contreras, highlighting the enormous financial burden placed on the family.
In the face of government inaction, the family has created a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds. Additionally, a raffle fundraiser has been organized at Bombshells Bar & Grill in Victorville to help gather additional support. The event, scheduled for June 6, represents the true American spirit of community coming together when government institutions fail to fulfill their responsibilities to citizens. While Manuel’s children remain hopeful for his recovery and return home, their struggle serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly American citizens can find themselves abandoned by the very systems they support through their tax dollars.
