Originally Posted - March 24, 2007

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Emilio Gonzales is a 16 month old baby boy. He's in has a degenerative neurological condition called Leigh's disease. A Google search will reveal that Leigh's disease -- "is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder characterized by degeneration of the central nervous system. Symptoms of Leigh's disease usually begin between the ages of 3 months to 2 years and progress rapidly. In most children, the first signs may be poor sucking ability and loss of head control and motor skills.

These symptoms may be accompanied by loss of appetite, vomiting, irritability, continuous crying, and seizures. As the disorder progresses, symptoms may also include generalized weakness, lack of muscle tone, and episodes of lactic acidosis, which can lead to impairment of respiratory and kidney function. Heart problems may also occur."

"…The most common treatment for Leigh's disease is thiamine or Vitamin B1. In patients who have a deficiency of pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may be recommended. Oral sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate may also be prescribed to manage lactic acidosis. Experimental protocols are currently using dichloroacetate to treat patients with lactic acidosis."

"…The prognosis for individuals with Leigh's disease is poor. Individuals who lack mitochondrial complex IV activity and those with pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency tend to have the worst prognosis and die within a few years. Those with partial deficiencies have a better prognosis, and may live to be 6 or 7 years of age. Some have survived to their mid-teenage years." (Taken from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/leighsdisease/leighsdisease.htm .)"

In short, little Emilio is a very sick baby boy.

He is ventilator dependent and under the care of the Brackenridge Children's Hospital in Austin, Texas - but not for long. Under a Texas Futile Care law, his doctor is able to override the family's wishes and withdraw treatment if he deems it to be futile. That's exactly what has happened. Emilio's mother Catarina Gonzales (23) was served the mandatory 10 days notice by the hospital ethics committee that baby Emilio's ventilator would be turned off on March 23.

A brave and tenacious Texas Lawyer, Jerri Ward, has been able to get that ominous date postponed until April 10th in order to assist the baby's mother to find another facility that will accept Emilio.

Surely there is another medical facility somewhere in America that will accept this baby boy. (?) Surely there is a physician who will step forward to treat Emilio. (?) Surely there is somebody who is prepared to underwrite the cost of a medical flight for Emilio and his mom out of Texas to wherever that medical facility might be. (?) This baby deserves whatever life has been given to him and nobody has the right to rob him of it. If he dies, let it be from natural causes, not because somebody pursued his death by denying care. If baby Emilio dies of natural causes, at least America does not stand under the moral indictment of deliberately killing another disabled citizen.

In 2003, the disability organization I founded (HumanLifeMatters) tried to persuade the Canadian government to offer asylum for Terri Schiavo. HumanLifeMatters assembled a team of volunteer Christian physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals in Edmonton, Alberta, to provide needed care for her. The Good Samaritan Hospital guaranteed a bed for Terri. A wealthy Edmonton businessman offered to underwrite the costs of a medical flight.

Unfortunately the Liberal government of former Prime Minister refused to offer asylum for her.

Now futile care has raised its ugly head to threaten Emilio Gonzales. I will try once again to explore similar medical arrangements in Canada. We have a new Conservative government. Perhaps they will be open to showing mercy and allow entrance into my country.

I want to appeal to America's Christians and pro-Life community to use the time between now and April 10th to search for a physician and medical facility that will take Emilio. His mother, Catarina (23) told LifeSite News, "I know he's going to die of Leigh's Disease. I can accept that. But to take him, that's mainly playing God because you are saying who lives and who dies. …It's really hard because you see your son moving, and you see him opening his eyes."

Perhaps it's best to get Emilio out of Texas and away from the clutches of its Futile Care Law. The Gonzales' lawyer Jerri Ward has even asked me to explore possibilities of bring the child and his mother to Canada if no medical facility or physician can be found to treat this baby boy in the US. I have begun exploring the possibilities and requirements both legally and medically, if nobody steps forward in America.

I ask readers to explore possibilities for Emilio in their communities. Is anyone prepared to cover costs of bringing Emilio and his mother to Canada if it comes to that?

Baby Emilio deserves loving care, regardless of whether he lives or dies naturally. He needs to feel loved and valued through our collective embrace. I can be contacted at HumanLifeMatters@shaw.ca or my personal email MPickup@shaw.ca 3-24-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette