It was thought by doctors she was so helplessly brain damaged she would never "recover." Well, she is breathing and communicating now.
It was one hell of a story:
Holli may have thought she was joining Haleigh in death. But as so often before, Haleigh would defy the assumptions about her.
In the months that followed, DSS went before the state's highest court for approval to withdraw Haleigh's life support. One of Haleigh's two doctors agreed with the request, the other did not. Another dissenter was Jason Strickland, who would face murder charges if Haleigh died. On Jan. 17, 2006, the judges authorized the removal of Haleigh's ventilator and feeding tube to let her "die with dignity."
But a day after the ruling, doctors at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield announced that the girl was breathing on her own and responding to commands. Doctors and DSS officials have not disclosed whether medical staff detected Haleigh's improved condition only after the court ruling, or days earlier but failed to report this to judges. On Jan. 24, the DSS commissioner, Harry Spence, visited Haleigh in her hospital room, observing her pick up a Curious George doll and a yellow duck on command.
Her recovery has continued, to the point that last Tuesday in Springfield, a prosecutor told a judge that she plans to call Haleigh as a witness in the criminal case against Jason Strickland, whom authorities consider culpable for Haleigh's injuries -though they believe Holli was the mastermind. Defense attorneys say they will seek to block Haleigh's testimony, by raising questions about her competency and credibility.
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Doris Payne, forcibly retired after spending five decades as a jewel thief, reveals her tips on how to get caught.
She had a lot of fun doing it, though.
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