Once a migrant worker, today he's a brain surgeon

i'm a farmer i like being a farmer

migrant means low paid worker

I agree with mkad, everyone seems to just blame their status on others specially immigrants! it seems like this inspiring story is viewed with a racist perspective instead of a perspective with admiration and the fact that this individual overcame obstacles and strived to better his situation....and i agree that no one gets anything for free in this country. We come here to work and that is that. Immigrants are hard workers and find the way to make a dime and not squeeze a dime out the system. I can say that an immigrant will rather work in a corner selling flowers or oranges or like the story mentined above picking produce instead of "asking for money" they try to find a way to survive. On the other had, I've seen far more caucasians living on the streets asking for money istead of finding the way to survive. Too bad they are born in this country and can't make use of all the resources and alternatives this country offers!

my family was cherokee indians and the white man stole our land

As AZKat put it so very well, there are huge gaps in the credibility of this story. While everyone should applaud Dr.Q. for his hard work and success, where-and how-, did he go to primary schools that would propel him to graduate college at age 18?? Having lived in California a majority of my life, I totally realize that "special" shades of brown are given an all expenses paid pass through the educational system, but this seems very exceptional. Our eldest daughter graduated from a fine high school as valedictorian, and then went to Pepperdine and UCSB, but she sure could not have graduated at 18, and between property taxes and tuition, even after scholarships, this education cost was huge. Where did the hundreds of THOUSANDS of $$$ come from for Dr. Q. . Hopefully he will use his newfound celebrity and the wealth that will surely follow to help promote LEGAL citizens and self responsibility!!

This "story" appeared in the Readers Digest in February, 2008. Where is the author's recognition? The article used the same photo used in this story!!! PLAGERISM!!!!

Chuck they defeated you, not stole. Give them credit for a fairly peaceful overthrow.

It took me 20 years to lawfully receive my permanent residency in the US. the last five of those 20 years were spent waiting for my forms to be approved. Because things are easier now, I look back in those 20 years with sadness for all the opportunities that I could not do because I was not a citizen nor a permanent residence.

The hard work that Dr. Q talks about is limited to individuals that are residents, then, the system will reward you. Provided that I have 2 bachelors, 1 masters, and expect a second masters, I guarantee you that there were many more activities (internship, employment, academic) that I could not attain despite my brilliant academic performance and outside praises. Hard work did not reward me. Innovation to circumvent the systems did. Instead, I re-invented the wheel and fought tooth and nail to get close to what I believed in my heart. That is why there is sadness for lost time...

The disparity is not about the illegals that are coming in but rather where most American citizens do NOT understand the process by which so many illegals acquire their residency via loopholes or clever immigration lawyering.

This same article was published in the Readers Digest in the February 2008 edition, page 140.

omg. i read this story months ago in the reader's digest! reporters have to mine for better stories. seriously.

good story though. love them illegals. o yes, btw, i was an illegal 2. and i work for the government now. ^_^ it's so great to meet people who tell me that illegals are taking their jobs and they get upset, and they say "but what do you care, you have a government job?" and i'm like (in perfect english), "yeah, i was an illegal too." it's fun to see their faces. =p

no, i do not normally speak or type like this. i write like this when i feel like being me and no so... what's the word?... edumecated. ^_^

This same "story" was published in the Readers Digest February,2008 edition, page 140. This is nothing new. The same photo was used in the RD story.

This story just irks me, and I agree with a lot of what is posted here already. Doing a story on one immigrant who illegally came to the US in the first place and then eventually did the right thing and became a citizen and went to college and earned a degree like millions of other Americans do is fine, but I have a feeling the real reason this story was done has little to do with good ole Dr. X, himself, and more to do with the upcoming elections and the candidates stances on immigration law. I was recently at an event which always displays the American flag and sings the National Anthem before it begins. I was unfortunate enough to be seated directly in front of an entire family of what I will assume are illegal immigrants. Not a word of English was spoken and since this event took place in a town surrounded by farms and a huge chicken processing plant, I'm pretty certain my assumption is correct (perhaps I should have yelled "La Migra" to find out). Regardless of their legal status in this country, they did choose to come here, they chose to shop at our stores, live in our communities, take our government handouts. And you know what else they chose to do? They chose to REFUSE to stand for Our Flag, REFUSED to remove their hats while the anthem was played, REFUSED to be quiet so that those of us around them could stand with our hands over our hearts and show our pride in our Country. WHY? Why do they come if they have no respect for our Nation and who we are? If you aren't proud to be here, proud of the chances you are being offered, go home, and stop climbing fences and hiding in the back of trucks to get back over here! And for goodness sakes, if nothing else, LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!

such a tired old argument. the fact is that, unlike 100 years ago, illegal immigration is now a burden on this country. strain on social services, crime, diseases, etc and a net negative on the economy.

time to build the wall

great story, this is the stuff i love to here. wish all the immigrants as well as american citizens were more like dr. q. , working hard to achieve your goal and most importantly contributing to society.

this is the indians land you are all trespassing!

just kidding!!!lol!!!

So what is the main stream media promoting with such a story? To spin propaganda that all the Mexicans entering the US illegally all have fire in their belly to become doctors? I have to differ when I stand in line in the grocery stores and see Mexican women with little children spending public assistance checks. ( My tax money at work). Than you go to the hospital and see the emergency rooms packed with migrant workers (God forbid I assume any of them are illegal or I classify them as illegals) But than my cousin is a doctor in a hospital in San Diego and he tells me half of the operations he does is on illegal immigrants who cross over the boarder for free health care.. But you do not hear all the problems, crimes and disrespect for US laws for illegals. The state of California covers up or forbids leaks on the true problems with illegals..

i mean really it's all gods land and he allows us to stay here for the time being!!!lol! i mean if he decided to he could squash us all like bugs!!!lol!!!!!!!!!!!

This is an inspiring story "BUT" where did the funding for all this education come from? My wife and I both work full time and struggle to send our daughter to a local community college. Someone paid for his education to be a teacher then paid for his medical education after that. I have a feeling it is the same people that he is now charging astronomical prices for the services he supplies to them by way of them paying for his education...The American tax payer! They paid for him to learn then pay him for what he learned. I'd climb a friggin fence too!

great story, like to hear these kind of stories, wish everyone was more like dr. q , all immigrants and american citizens alike. working hard to achieve a goal and contributing to society. not just jumping a fence to get a free handout and contribute to crime.

most people are lazy. dont want to work for anything. people feel like it should be handed to them. that is why i oppose illegal immigration. i have no problem with immigration as long as it is done right and lawfully. but the majority of the illegals migrating the the us know they will instantly be given full access to benefits that should be only accessible to legitimate legal citizens. but thanks to our liberal society and the idiots running our government, illegals come over here and consume our hard earned tax dollars and help increase the amount of criminal activity in this country. granted not all of them are like that, but many. they do not pay much in income taxes, because they use phoney ssn's , claim the max. number of dependents and change ssn's and identities when it comes time to pay up.

wise up people. this is a cut and dry topic, there is no room for debate.

the other comments are interesting and would have to agree that the law must be followed. The people of this great country can not continue to pay the bills of the worlds Illegal immigrates and survive without soon also becoming a 3rd world country are selves. My Daughter will attend college next year and has been told that the more boxes she can check for scholarships the better her chances. But I noticed that there are no boxes for white American, Europeans American, is the playing field equal "no". There needs to be a legal way for these people to come here and work but first and foremost we need to take care of our own citizens no matter what the race or color equally them if there is money left we pay to educate the rest (this is of course without raising taxes)

I have the utmost admirable respect for the doctor's journey to his current profession and my heart goes out to all cancer patients but I wish the print, news and TV media would STOP all the misleading talk about finding a cure for cancer. We've been blessed with generations of great scientists armed with all the knowledge, tools and resources to find the cure. Billions of dollars have already been contributed towards cancer research. It is my belief that a cure has been in existence for centuries but truthfully speaking it's all about money in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. If all cancer is cured then there would be no need for modern day medicine or treatment. In other words, "If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense."

Where did you all Rednecks came out from?, you should be watching Oprah
and stop complaining for God's sake!!

I see this as an attempt to alter the populous view from the fact that we are still being invaded by a foreign country. I'm all in favor of anyone making the best of themselves... Legally! Just because this one person makes good, and is touted to be one of the best surgeons around doesn't excuse the fact that he came to this country illegally. Let's not reward illegal activities with praise and honors. Facts are facts, illegal immigration is just that, illegal. If a murderer applies himself, obtains a jurist doctorate, and upon parole becomes a notable attorney he is still a convicted murderer is he not. The same applies here, even though a respected Doctor, he still came to this country illegally, and that is considered a crime

So....bringing up the Statue of Liberty? Lifting high her torch of welcome to LEGAL immigrants? FINE. Let's seal up the borders and every entry port/access to this country.....and make the requirement MANDATORY that all entry must be through Ellis Island. Happy now? I would LOVE to see that. No more jaunts across the borders....eh?