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Haleigh’s Vigil
Posted by Raven on December 6th, 2005
A while ago we wrote about Haleigh, the 11 year old girl who was beaten to almost death by her father. She remains hospitalized, on a vent and has a G Tube. Her mother wants the life supports removed, only so her father can be prosecuted for murder. And he wants her kept alive for obvious reasons. The state of MA wants the supports taken away as well, for the same reasons. This is a very sad thing, and NO one is looking out for Haleigh’s interests here.
WESTFIELD, Mass. — Allison Avrett’s photos show her daughter Haleigh as a smiling little girl with brown bangs hanging over her squinting eyes.
Those pictures were taken before Mrs. Avrett gave up Haleigh for adoption five years ago, and long before the purported beating that landed the 11-year-old in a hospital attached to the ventilator and feeding tube.
Now, with Haleigh’s doctors saying she will never recover from her vegetative state, the child is at the center of a life-and-death legal struggle.
The state Department of Social Services, which has had custody of Haleigh since she was hospitalized Sept. 11, wants to remove her from life support.
Her stepfather, Jason Strickland, who is charged in her beating and could be tried for murder if she dies, wants to keep the girl alive. He is free on bail while awaiting trial.
A juvenile court judge has ruled that Haleigh should be allowed to die. Mr. Strickland has appealed, and the state’s highest court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case today.
It will be interesting to see how the court handles this. We will be keeping an eye on this story.
December 6th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
We need let the little girl go to heaven, in peace…and hand her scumbag stepdad over to a gang of prison rapists.
Here’s your feeding tube, pal.