A TEENAGE boy died last week of a "survivable" cancer after his parents ignored symptoms for months, and only sought medical attention when it was too late.
Doctors determined that 14-year-old Ramiro Miranca-Urias could have survived the disease if he was properly treated, and his parents have since been charged with child abuse resulting in death.
Maria Urias-Astorga, 53, and Ramiro Miranda-Quinonez, 54, said they didn't seek medical attention sooner because they did not have insurance. They only brought Ramiro into a Santa Fe hospital on September 7 because he began having difficult breathing.
He passed away days later after being transferred to a hospital in Albuquerque.
"He will die from this because his family didn't bring him to care," a doctor reportedly told an investigator. "It's hideous and atrocious. His mother has killed him."
The Santa Fe Police Department began looking into the case after being contacted by the hospital, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
His mother reportedly told investigators that the teen had been suffering from debilitating symptoms for at least a month – yet he hadn't seen a doctor in years because the family did not have insurance, according to the outlet.
Ramiro reportedly began complaining of pain in his knee and hip about a month ago, and began walking on his tiptoes to try to alleviate the pain.
He also lost his appetite and began rapidly losing weight. He was just 68 pounds when he died.
In the weeks before the family brought Ramiro to the hospital, his pain became so unbearable that he had to be carried around his home and needed help using the restroom.
The mom also reportedly said she noticed a bump on the side of her son's head and that he had developed varicose veins.
The cancer also caused the boy to develop a large bruise on his torso, which his mother told investigators she noticed days before seeking medical attention. She didn't think that warranted a hospital visit either, she said.
According to affidavits obtained by the Sante Fe New Mexican, the mother tried treating her son's horrific symptoms with "medicinal cream" and gave him herbs and tea to try to stop him from vomiting.
The boy's father reportedly said that he noticed his son being more lethargic around May, however, the family thought he was feeling depressed due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down his school.
Doctors determined that for the disease to have progressed to such an advanced stage, Ramiro had to have been sick for six to 12 months, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
Urias-Astorga and Miranda-Quiñonez made their first court appearance on Monday.
Both were released on $10,000 unsecured appearance bonds, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
They are scheduled to appear again in an October 7 hearing.
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