By Marley Seaman
Ana Lucia Arenas, the mother of Luis Mora, the Baldwin teenager who died on Dec. 21 during dental surgery, is from Colombia. Mora was born and raised there, and came to the U.S. four years ago. Arenas tried to enter the U.S. for her son's funeral, but Colombian officials refused to grant her a visa.
Upon learning of the situation, New York state Comptroller Alan Hevesi contacted Clinton's office. The senator and the U.S. Embassy in Bogota negotiated a one-entry visa for Arenas, who arrived in New York on Jan. 4 and attended the service at Vanella's Funeral Chapel in Oceanside the following day.
Calls to Mora's family and legal guardians in Baldwin were not returned.
"I am so pleased that I could work with Comptroller Hevesi to obtain this visa for Mrs. Arenas," said Clinton. "This is surely the worst thing to happen to a parent, and she has already been through so much pain and suffering."
Mora was administered pentathol before his wisdom teeth were removed, and died of an apparent heart attack after the surgery. The procedure was performed by Dr. Joseph Como of the Island Oral Surgery and Implant Group in Hempstead.
Police said that Mora "began to show signs of cardiac and respiratory distress" after four of his teeth were taken out. He died 2 1/2 hours later at Winthrop University Hospital. Police do not believe any crime was committed. Como declined to comment.
Mora was a senior at Baldwin Senior High School and was scheduled to graduate in June. He played on the boys' soccer team for part of this season, eventually leaving to take an after-school job. Soccer coach Mike Palumbo described him as an outgoing young man who always had a smile on his face. Prior to this year, Mora attended schools in Oceanside.
"We are all saddened by his untimely death," said Baldwin Senior High Principal Susan Knors. "He was well-liked by his peers and faculty alike. This kind and polite young man will be sorely missed."
Comments about this . . .?
