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Parents Battle To Decide Fate Of Comatose Son
March 18, 2009SAN DIEGO -- For almost a year, 16-year-old Aaron Pimentel has been laying in a coma at the Helen Bernardy Center.
His father, AJ Pimentel, said his son was attacked by gang members last summer and has been in a persistent vegetative state since.
Aaron's divorced parents are battling over whether he should be allowed to die.
"He has no cognitive function. He doesn't swallow, he doesn't move," said AJ Pimentel.
AJ Pimentel said doctors have told him there is no chance Aaron will recover. He wants his son to be allowed to die with dignity in the care of hospice.
"His body is hanging but he's really gone," said AJ.
AJ said his ex-wife, Joy, believes Aaron will recover.
"He's technically … he's gone and my ex-wife believes that God will heal him," said AJ.
Joy Pimentel lives in Washington and did not return calls made by 10News.
Both parents share custody but they are arguing in a domestic court over the right to full custody.
Whoever wins could ultimately decide Aaron's fate -- a fate AJ thinks has already been decided.
"If God is going to heal my son, it would have been done right there and then," said AJ.
AJ said Aaron is breathing on his own but doesn't respond to words or visual cues -- which means someone else might have to decide where he goes from this point.
A hearing will be held Wednesday to discuss which parent has custody, and to ultimately decide what to do with Aaron.
No arrests have been made in Aaron's attack.
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