Baby Emilio gets a reprieve
He lives to see another day…for now.
A judge granted a family’s request to keep their critically ill baby alive, ruling Tuesday that the boy should not yet be removed from life support as the hospital planned.
Children’s Hospital of Austin has been caring for 17-month-old Emilio Gonzales since December, but it says its medical efforts are futile and the child is suffering. It invoked a state law that allows hospitals to end life-sustaining treatment in such cases with 10 days notice to the family.
Emilio’s mother, Catarina Gonzales, 23, challenged the decision, and the judge agreed to block the hospital’s move for at least nine more days.
“He may not live that long, but that’s nobody’s choice. That’s my choice. And that’s God’s choice. Nobody can say, ‘No we’re going to take him off, that’s it,'” she said. She says her only son isn’t unresponsive, and that he smiles and turns his head toward voices.
Probate Judge Guy Herman set another hearing for April 19 to consider Emilio’s case.
“He may not live that long, but that’s nobody’s choice.” That’s the point, and the best advocate Emilio’s family has in making it is the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.
