Mum and daughter stay in a hospital for 15 months at a cost of nearly $200,000 to taxpayers

Asylum seekers Mimi Tejebe, 50, and her daughter Ruth Kidane, 21, continue to live in the hospital Ruth got admitted to over a year ago as other tenants moved into their allocated flat in Grimsby.

Ruth that suffers from a degenerative muscle-weakening disorder got admitted to Barnet Hospital in North London in July 2017 with respiratory problems. Her mother, Mimi moved in with her shortly after while waiting for a council home.

The 21-year-old got discharged a month after being admitted, but they kept on living in the hospital because they lost their council home when other tenants moved in.

Taxpayers have reportedly forked out over £150,000 for Ruth and Mimi’s stay in the hospital. The trust has taken no action to remove them and continues to pay for their visit, even though neither of them is receiving any treatment.

Read more on our Twitter account @amomama_usa.

More than 100 patients have missed out on a bed, and the situation has caused controversy. Mum Mimi said they could not return to the town they had previously lived due to racial abuse; they left Ethiopia due to suffering relentless racism and elaborated:

"I was called a n*****" and told to "go back home. Sometimes I used to stay awake at night just to hold Ruth’s hand as she slept. I started to keep the curtains closed during the day."

Patient Concern’s Joyce Robins voiced her opinion and said:

“This case is shocking, disgraceful. Apart from the incredible cost, it is hugely unfair to others. I can’t understand why the hospital would let this continue. Their job is to make people better not offer a free B&B.”

Barnet Council said it could not help because the mum and daughter is not registered there, while North East Lincolnshire Council commented:

“We have a statutory duty to work with people who find themselves homeless, offering help and support to get them back into accommodation. If the women return to the area, we will provide them with accommodation as is our duty.”

For some people, a hospital reluctantly becomes their home when their health deteriorates to the extent that living anywhere else is no longer an option.

For Claire Wineland, born with cystic fibrosis life in hospital, much like life for anyone else is filled with both joy and pain. When Claire was 13, a routine surgery ended up with her being in a medically induced coma for more than two weeks with a mere 1% chance to live.

Survive she did and turned around her initial life expectancy of 25. Now she does up to four hours of breathing treatments and take around 30 pills daily.

Her condition is a life-threating genetic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system, but she does not let it get her down. From her perspective, her life is anything but miserable. Late night room service orders with friends, Harry Potter movie marathons and 2 am blood draws; all gave her memories.

Her parents started a foundation to support families like theirs when Claire was 13 and called it the ‘Claire’s Place Foundation. Claire became a public speaker at age 14 and created her own video series called ‘The Clairity Project.’

Her time living with this disease has inspired her to help and support others going through the same, and to show others, that even though she is sick, that is not all she is.

On August 26, the 21-year old Claire received a successful double lung transplant. However, she suffered a massive heart attack not long after the nine-hour surgery and caused the blood to clot.

After several life-saving procedures and intensive care, doctors realized there was nothing more they could do for her. A week later on September 2, 2018, the inspirational Claire passed away while being surrounded by her family.

Claire continued to help others even after her passing. She was an organ donor and estimated that her organs would save the lives of at least 50 people.