Emilio Gets Extension Till April 10

Austin Children's Hospital has agreed to extend support for Emilio Gonzales until April 10. If anyone has more info, please email so FRIDA can help figure out what's needed next. The story is pasted below and at this link: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2725356&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1.

Hospital Agrees to Keep Child Alive
Last Edited: Tuesday, 20 Mar 2007, 9:48 PM CDT
Created: Tuesday, 20 Mar 2007, 7:20 PM CDT

-->AUSTIN --

Catarina Gonzales had been fighting to keep her son Emilio alive after Children’s Hospital of Austin announced it would not continue treating the 16-month-old boy. Gonzalez is on life support and the hospital intended on taking him off the ventilator he needs to live on Friday.

However, Tuesday evening, the hospital granted an extension until April 10 at 5:00 p.m. Both the hospital and Emilio’s mother also agreed to keep each other informed of the efforts made to find a facility to transfer Emilio.

On December 28, 2006, Emilio Gonzales' mother brought him to the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Hospital of Austin. Emilio was diagnosed with Leigh’s Disease and on March 12, a hospital ethics committee voted to end Emilio’s treatment.

“This is care that is medically inappropriate,” explained Michael Regier, spokesperson for the hospital. “The aggressive care this infant is receiving is causing suffering and harm to the infant and without clinical benefit and [it] should be discontinued.”

Catarina Gonzalez says she wants to spend as much time with her son as possible.
“As much as I can be with him I'm gonna be with him,” says Gonzalez. “I don't want them pulling the plug on him saying they're going to turn off the ventilator while he moves and while he opens his eyes.”