The parents of an 8 year old boy who died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, after suffering for months swollen lymph undiagnosed, pleaded guilty from denying care.
Hussing Monica, 37, and William Robinson Sr., 40, both of Cleveland, faces up to eight years in prison when sentenced. He pleaded guilty on Monday to charge of attempted manslaughter after reaching a last-minute deal with prosecutors just before his trial began.
Willie Robinson collapsed at his home on March 22, 2008. Prosecutors said he had begged his parents to take him to see a doctor, but they refused. Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly treatable cancer.
Hussing’s lawyer, John Luskin, said his client was responsible for the case, but their education and background, did not realize the boy was seriously ill and was serving with influenza.
“She is a mother who just did not have the ability to recognize cancer,” Luskin said Wednesday.
Robinson’s attorney, Thomas Rein, described the issue as “a sad case, horrific” research attracted him to the White House at a time when they were considering changes to federal health care law in 2009.
“If he had had regular medical coverage, you may have been avoided this,” said Rein on the death of the child.
Luskin and Rein said that parents had financial problems and tried to get checkups for their children, but they could not afford them.
“The boy had what appeared swollen glands,” said Luskin. “This was not a tumor that was growing. Appeared and disappeared. I had good days and bad days,” he said.
Hussing’s daughter, Lillian Hussing, said the family had no money for medical care when they lived in Warren, who tried repeatedly to get help from social services and visited a free clinic, but left it when they said they would have pay $ 180.
“We knew it was cancer,” he said. “We tried to get help and were denied each time,” said the daughter, who is 18.