DFA Helps Bring Home Paralyzed Filipina in New York

Consul Kerwin Tate (center) hands the $10,000.00 check to Ms. Cathy Coniega as the government’s share for the medical repatriation of Mary Ann Coniega. Also in photo is Mark Reyes Case Manager of Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York.

04 April 2017 NEW YORK CITY — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) helped bring home Filipina Mary Ann Coniega who suffered a massive stroke last January 28 while working in the New York area.

The stroke left her in a condition known as “locked-in syndrome,” a condition in which a patient is aware but cannot move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for vertical eye movements and blinking.

ATN representatives from the Consulate General were informed by Mt. Sinai Hospital about Ms. Coniega’s situation and quickly relayed the information to the DFA. The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) immediately authorized assistance to help pay for Mary Ann’s repatriation, in cooperation with Mt. Sinai Hospital.

The family of Mary Ann Coniega expressed it appreciation to the DFA and the Philippine Consulate General for the assistance in getting her repatriated in the morning of March 31. END