And the drama continues...

As the clock continues to tick closer to January 7th, the McMath family continues to plead with Children's Hospital of Oakland to keep Jahi on life support, although six different doctors and a judge have declared her legally dead. Let me be very clear when I say that I believe that this family is in serious denial, shock, pain, and mourning. They do not want to accept that the 13 year old is gone after a 'routine' surgery (some reports claim that it was not, in fact, that 'routine' of a surgery and was actually a complicated combination of three different surgeries). Either way, it should not have killed the girl.

This is where the situation turns murky. The family, along with their attorney, have been speaking to the media from day one, voicing their disappointment with the hospital. And who can blame them?  How can you expect a mother to trust the same doctors that cost her the life of her child?  However the hospital has been unable to comment due to hipaa privacy laws. The hospital has asked the family for permission to comment on the sad case, but the family has refused to let them speak out. This has many people wondering why?

To add to the drama, the families attorney (a well known personal injury lawyer out of Oakland who has taken on the case for free.... surprise surprise), is claiming that the hospital first told them that they could bring in an outside physician to insert a tracheotomy, and a feeding tube that must be done before she can be air lifted to another facility, but is now refusing to allow an independent doctor from using Children's facility and staff. The hospital is adamant that Jahi is dead and that it is unethical for anesthesia to be administered to a deceased person.

Also in question is the New Beginnings facility in New York, run by a hairdresser, that claims it could provide Jahi with outpatient treatment. The facility is not licensed and upon first review, did not even have any licensed medical workers on staff. Children's Hospital claims that no facility has come forward saying that it is willing to accept Jahi's body. I think its worth mentioning that Children's Hospital has an outstanding reputation and is among the top 10 hospitals, nationwide.

Reading Internet blogs late last night made me sick, with people blaming the grieving mother for this tragedy and even the poor child herself, due to her weight. It makes me sick how many heartless people there are in this world. Obviously, a malpractice lawsuit was going to come of this. A 13 year old is dead after a surgery that was only supposed to require an overnight hospital stay. Calling the family greedy and gold-diggers is WRONG!!  These people have lost a child. Anyone would sue in this situation.  And while its clear the family is in denial, can you blame them?  Especially that poor mother that blames herself because her child told her that she didn't want to have the surgery for fear that she wouldn't wake up?

It is beyond clear to me that no amount of money could ease this families heartbreak. They are not in this for the money!!!  The fact that I have to make that statement makes me SICK. Anyone that has lost a loved one knows that no amount of money in the world is sufficient when you lose a person that you love. Especially a child. And to blame the family and especially the child is appalling.

This is a tragic, heartbreaking situation. Jahi is gone, her family refuses to accept it, which has caused a whirlwind of finger pointing and drama. My concern is that putting off an autopsy could possibly hinder important findings and it needs to be known what exactly went wrong to cost this child her life.

I will continue following this story and will keep you updated. Please pray for this grieving family. Pray for them to have the strength they need to accept the fact that Jahi is no longer with us, and maybe donating her still working organs to another family, so that a part of Jahi can live on and save another childs life, before it is too late and her organs shut down.  As of now, that seems to be the only thing that will make the McMath family accept that Jahi is gone. They say that as long as her heart is beating, they will fight on....I only hope that Jahi's grieving family never reads some of the cruel things that I came across online last night.



http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_24812585/jahi-mcmath-mom-and-lawyer-say-only-remaining

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/QA-Jahi-McMaths-Brain-Death-Ignites-Difficult-Debate-238360221.html

Jahi McMath

 

Jahi McMath is a thirteen year old girl.  I'm sure you've all heard of her by now.  On December 9, 2013, she went in for a routine tonsillectomy surgery. Shorty after, she began bleeding from the mouth and nose. She ended up going into cardiac arrest and was ultimately declared brain dead.

So begins the saga of the McMath nightmare. First, there's the fact that the young girl had made ominous comments claiming that she didn't want the surgery because she was afraid that she 'wouldn't wake up'. I can not imagine the guilt this family feels when they remember those prophetic words. The family, ridden by grief and guilt, during a season of celebration and joy, refuse to accept that the child is dead. So far, the girl has escaped her death sentence, with the family going to court and filing motions to keep the doctors that cost the child her life, from taking her off of life support. The first order gave them until after Christmas. Today, at 5:00 pm (8:00pm ET) Jahi was to be disconnected from the machines that are keeping her blood flowing, her heart beating, and her body warm to the touch. All things that her mother says proves her baby is alive, despite countless tests pointing to the contrary. She claims that Jahi moves and responds to her voice. Doctors claim that this is a normal reaction when a person is on life support and is not a sign of life.

The court has given the family until January 7, 2014 at 5:00pm to either find another facility willing to take Jahi in, or removing her from life support.  The debate here has become whether it is the hospital or the parent that should decide when a child is to be removed from the machines that are giving them life.  Imagine someone telling you the exact day and time that your baby will be taken from you. After all, this is a mother that whole heartedly believes her daughter is still alive.

This story is so tragic. How do you tell a mother that her baby is dead after a routine procedure?  I was one of the people that prayed that they would keep little Jahi on life support until after the holiday. I prayed for a Christmas miracle. Unfortunately, one never came. Being an outsider, I clearly understand that Jahi has passed. As a grieving family member, clinging to any and all hope, I'm not sure I'd see it the same way, however.

I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be here but one thing is certain, this poor family has got a long, hard road ahead of them. They are currently raising money to have Jahi moved to a different facility (no word yet if one will even accept her). If you want to help, you can find them on GoFundMe.com.   I will see if I can find a link to it.

What do you think should happen here?  Who should have the final say on when Jahi is taken off of life support? 

Please pray for this family and hold your babies close.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/12/30/family-california-teen-declared-brain-dead-says-ny-facility-is-last-last-hope/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/jahi-mcmath-could-be-removed-from-life-support-despite-familys-wishes/2013/12/30/41f122f4-7191-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.html

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/29/22095281-jahi-mcmath-new-york-facility-is-last-hope-for-girl-declared-brain-dead-family-say?lite

http://www.gofundme.com/Jahi-Mcmath