A baby the B.C. government allegedly tried taking off life support against her parents’ wishes is going through a remarkable recovery.
Mary Jane Pierce still has serious health issues, including cerebral palsy, but no longer requires a ventilator to breathe as she did in August when her parents claim the Ministry of Children and Family Development tried moving her to palliative care.
Father Justin Pierce said the five-month-old, who remains at B.C. Women’s Hospital, is now capable of breathing all on her own.
“There’s times where she does have non-invasive assistance,” he added. “Not intubated, not down her face, just a little mask.”
Mary Jane is also putting on weight. She was just over one pound when she was born 25 weeks premature in April, but has since grown to 11 pounds.
She hasn’t required life support for the last two weeks either.
“Our child will live for sure, it’s just a matter of how long and the quality of life,” mother Michelle Arnold said. “We want to give her the best life she can possibly have at home.”
Her progress has allowed her parents to drop a court battle with the province over keeping her on life support, but they’re still facing a fight over custody. The family is looking for donations to help with legal fees.
Their lawyer, Erin Haupt, said the ministry wants to keep Mary Jane in its care, but Pierce and Arnold are working to prove themselves as they await their next court date, likely to take place in a few months.
“This time we have got while we work toward a protection hearing will allow Michelle and Justin to learn the things they need to learn and also work with social workers to show they're ready, willing and able to look after Mary Jane, who is going to need specialized care in the future," Haupt said.
Mary Jane has been in the ministry’s care since birth because of her health issues, and concerns about the parents' ability to care for her. The baby has suffered from frequent seizures, and already had multiple brain bleeds that left her brain damaged.
But Pierce and Arnold said they’re hopeful they’ll be able to take her home soon, and have been training with hospital staff so they'll be able to meet her needs.
“I strongly prefer her not to be in the ministry’s custody as they have already tried to remove her life support once,” Arnold said.
Mary Jane’s parents are also still pushing to be able to use cannabis oil for her long term treatment, something they claim has helped with her seizures.
“Obviously she’s a lot younger than most patients that do take this cannabis oil, but she has shown responses to it so we are still going to try to work to get that for us,” said Arnold.
The parents said doctors have told them their baby could be ready to leave hospital in as little as two weeks.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development said it isn’t able to comment on specific cases. In August, a spokesperson assured the ministry would never order a child off life support against the parents’ wishes.
B.C. Women’s Hospital also said it can’t comment on Mary Jane’s condition while her case is before the courts.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Sheila Scott
