topic Re: News About Jahi in Community Chat

News About Jahi

blrc — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:26:00 GMT

There is news this morning about Jahi McMath, the 13-year-old declared dead in December. Her mother has posted on Facebook that she is "much better". However, she offers no pictures, video, test results, etc. What is going on?? This tragedy never seems to end! Sorry I don't have a link, but it's all over Google.

Re: News About Jahi

croemer — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:27:38 GMT

I can't figure out if Mom is delusional or her claims are for real? There should be proof given other then Mom just making a statement.

Re: News About Jahi

Yuban3 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:27:41 GMT

Denial, denial, denial.

Re: News About Jahi

Yuban3 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:28:14 GMT

I thinks Mom is seeing things that she only wants to see.

Re: News About Jahi

lulu2 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:38:23 GMT

I cannot believe God has not ended this tragic story.

Re: News About Jahi

brii — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:43:42 GMT

Better how? That is so sad...

Re: News About Jahi

RetRN — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:46:33 GMT

Wish that mom would just keep quiet. I am not interested in anything she has to say. Is she paying the bills for the care of this brain dead corpse?

Re: News About Jahi

Yuban3 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:53:02 GMT

The mother of Jahi McMath, the 13-year-old Oakland girl who was declared brain-dead after a complicated surgery that involved removing her tonsils, insisted in a Facebook post this week that her daughter has improved physically, but that it continues to be an "unbelievably difficult time" for the family.

Citing alleged death threats, the family has declined to say where they transferred Jahi's body after she was released by Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland to the county coroner.

Jahi was declared brain-dead Dec. 12 after surgery three days earlier at the hospital to remove her tonsils, adenoids and uvula.

Family members won a court order keeping her on a ventilator, and eventually won permission to transfer her to an undisclosed care facility, despite broad consensus among medical experts that her body will continue to deteriorate.

The Alameda County coroner issued a death certificate without performing an autopsy.

But in a Facebook message posted Wednesday, Jahi's mother, Nailah Winkfield, wrote that "despite what people say about my daughter being dead and how I must be ignorant not to get that, I can tell you that she is much better physically since she has left Children's Hospital and I see changes that give me hope."

She went on to thank people "who view my daughter as the sweet, innocent, 13-year-old girl that she is and not a dead body or a corpse, I deeply appreciate that."

Medical experts and ethicists have criticized the decision to keep Jahi on a ventilator, saying there is absolutely no chance of recovering from brain death.

Bioethics experts also took issue with news media coverage that often repeated family assertions that the girl was alive, saying it clouded an issue the public already has difficulty grasping.

The Oakland girl underwent surgery Dec. 9. She was declared brain-dead after she went into cardiac arrest and suffered extensive brain hemorrhaging.

At least three neurologists confirmed that Jahi was unable to breathe on her own, had no blood flow to her brain and had no sign of electrical activity in her brain.

A court order kept Jahi's body on a ventilator while independent experts could be brought in to affirm the findings. Even so, the McMath family was able to secure the release of Jahi's body via the county coroner.

Bodies of the brain-dead have been maintained on respirators for months or, in rare cases, years. However, once cessation of all brain activity is confirmed, there is no recovery, Rebecca S. Dresser, professor of law and ethics in medicine at Washington University in St. Louis,told The Times.

The case could have long-term consequences.

Arthur Caplan, director of the division of medical ethics at New York University's Langone Medical Center, told The Times that the case could compel other families to "ultimately say, 'I'd like to take this body home and wait for a miracle.' That would be a public policy of disrespect for dead bodies."

"The ability to get clear about brain death has been a real obstacle," he said. "This hasn't helped at all."

In her Facebook post, Winkfield dismissed those critics, insisting that when it comes to her daughter, "I will never let her suffer."

"God can overcome all things and I believe that his will has yet to be fully revealed," Winkfield wrote. "I love Jahi and where there is love, there is hope."

jason.wells@latimes.com

Twitter: @jasonbretwells | Facebook | Google+

Re: News About Jahi

Yuban3 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:56:18 GMT

It has been over a month since I have spoken about my life with Jahi to anyone outside a very small circle of family and friends. So many people have asked how we are doing and if Jahi is alive. This has and continues
to be an unbelievably difficult time for me as a mother and for us as a family. I have withdrawn for reasons of safety and privacy and to focus on my daughter and my role as her mother. However, I have not been alone. I
have been surrounded by the love, support and prayers of so many kind people. Despite what people say about my daughter being dead and how I must be ignorant not to get that, I can tell you that she is much better physically since she has left Children's Hospital and I see changes that give me hope.

As I prayed today, I felt called to express to people that I am truly grateful for the amount of love and support my daughter Jahi McMath and I have received from people all over the world. We feel your prayer and support. Because of your unselfish generosity I was able to do what I was
afraid I would never be able to do, move my daughter from Children's Hospital Oakland before they removed her from her ventilator and stopped her heart. This was itself a miracle. Please know that all of the support we received has been used towards helping Jahi. If I had it my way, I would say thank you to each and every person in their native language so they could understand how much I appreciate them for all their support and, most importantly, prayers. It is my belief that faith in God,
your prayers, and the incredible kindness of good hearted medical professionals, are the main reasons my daughter is alive today. I know people are concerned and I want to make sure you know that Jahi is not suffering, she is surrounded by love. I will never let her suffer.

On the long hard days when I'm feeling down I think about all the people who are praying for me and Jahi and I feel so much better. I want you to know that I'm praying for you as well.

Thank you to all of the people who view my daughter as the sweet, innocent, 13 year old girl that she is and not a dead body or a corpse, I deeply appreciate that. Thank you to everyone who hasn't forgot how my daughter
got into this situation in the first place. No one should have to go through this.

I would like to thank all of the people who have reached out to me and shared their stories of their family members. Some have been heartbreaking, some have given me hope. All have helped me feel that I am
not the only person who has had this struggle. Some of you have shared how you fought for your loved ones and they got better, some of you have shared your regret with not fighting more and some shared with me the incredibly difficult decisions you made to let go. I have prayed for you as you have for me. Sadly I can say I know how you feel.

I also want to thank those who felt the need to go public with their opinions about me and my daughter, positive and even negative. It is because of you that my daughter's experience is so relevant and that people
all over the world know who Jahi Mcmath is. What you may not know is that her name, Jahi, means one who is known by many. Hopefully my daughter can
change some of the ways brain death is viewed in today's society. Honestly, I think she already has.

Finally, thank you for all the love, support and prayers you give Jahi every day. I am certain that she knows you are praying for her. I feel the support from your prayer all the time. I don't think I or Jahi would be here today without you. May God bless all who have shown love and
compassion as well as those who have expressed their contempt. All are deserving of God's grace and love. For those who believe, please, keep praying for Jahi. God can overcome all things and I believe that his will has yet to be fully revealed. I love Jahi and where there is love, there is hope.

Nailah Winkfield , Jahi's mom

Re: News About Jahi

brii — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:00:03 GMT

I don't believe that people have made threats against this family.

Re: News About Jahi

Preds — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:05:51 GMT

On 2/21/2014 brii said:
I don't believe that people have made threats against this family.

I don't know. In the world we live in today, it wouldn't surprise me. People are crazy.

Re: News About Jahi

brii — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:07:35 GMT

I would believe people want to find out their location. I would have a hard time believing that people would want to harm them.

Re: News About Jahi

raven-blackbird — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:10:27 GMT

The mother is right............where there is love, there is hope..........hope can be a miraculous drive, it's clear the mom has that..........but..........what is not clear is if Jahi has it and she is the one that MUST.........IF there is to be the slightest of recoveries she must have that drive to live......I believe this child left this plain a long while ago........there has been discussion on telling dying relatives it's okay, you can go..........it's a shame that someone in Jahi's position can't tell those that remain behind.........it's okay, it's time for you to let me go..................................................raven

Re: News About Jahi

chessylady — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:02:27 GMT

There is such a thing as letting a person die with dignity. This child's poor body has been put through enough.

Re: News About Jahi

serenity4ever — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:39:18 GMT

On 2/21/2014 blackbirdraven said:
The mother is right............where there is love, there is hope..........hope can be a miraculous drive, it's clear the mom has that..........but..........what is not clear is if Jahi has it and she is the one that MUST.........IF there is to be the slightest of recoveries she must have that drive to live......I believe this child left this plain a long while ago........there has been discussion on telling dying relatives it's okay, you can go..........it's a shame that someone in Jahi's position can't tell those that remain behind.........it's okay, it's time for you to let me go..................................................raven

An eloquent post and clearly from the heart...

Re: News About Jahi

scotttie — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:40:48 GMT

On 2/21/2014 RetRN said:
Wish that mom would just keep quiet. I am not interested in anything she has to say. Is she paying the bills for the care of this brain dead corpse?

If she is a corpse why does her foot move when it is tickled?

Re: News About Jahi

scotttie — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:45:10 GMT

On 2/21/2014 blackbirdraven said:
The mother is right............where there is love, there is hope..........hope can be a miraculous drive, it's clear the mom has that..........but..........what is not clear is if Jahi has it and she is the one that MUST.........IF there is to be the slightest of recoveries she must have that drive to live......I believe this child left this plain a long while ago........there has been discussion on telling dying relatives it's okay, you can go..........it's a shame that someone in Jahi's position can't tell those that remain behind.........it's okay, it's time for you to let me go..................................................raven

How beautifully said raven. So much more eloquent and sympathetic than many other postings on this topic. Why some people glorify in ugly words and nasty crticism of a family they know nothing about is beyond me.

Re: News About Jahi

Cakers1 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:52:04 GMT

Why in the world would anybody want to see pictures of Jahi in this condition?

I believe Jahi should have been laid to rest long ago, but morbid curiosity is just wrong imo.

Re: News About Jahi

Free2be — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:53:46 GMT

On 2/21/2014 beammeupscottie said:
On 2/21/2014 RetRN said:
Wish that mom would just keep quiet. I am not interested in anything she has to say. Is she paying the bills for the care of this brain dead corpse?

If she is a corpse why does her foot move when it is tickled?

Here's some Q & A that should answer such questions.

http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20140103/brain-dead-faq

Re: News About Jahi

Yuban3 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:55:06 GMT

On 2/21/2014 beammeupscottie said:
On 2/21/2014 RetRN said:
Wish that mom would just keep quiet. I am not interested in anything she has to say. Is she paying the bills for the care of this brain dead corpse?

If she is a corpse why does her foot move when it is tickled?

Simple.

Reflexes.

That has nothing to do with brain activity.