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'End-of-life' debate infant dies
Source: Agencies |
September 29, 2011, Thursday
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A CANADIAN boy whose family's struggle to keep him alive despite overwhelming odds spurred an international end-of-life debate has died about four months before his second birthday, a family spokesman said yesterday.
Joseph Maraachli, who became widely known as Baby Joseph, died on Tuesday afternoon, according to Brother Paul O'Donnell of St Paul, Minnesota, the family's spokesman and spiritual adviser. He was 20 months old.
Joseph suffered from the progressive neurological disease Leigh Syndrome. O'Donnell said Joseph's father, Moe, told him the baby died at home surrounded by his family.
He said it was likely that the child died of complications related to his disease but that the cause of death has yet to be announced.
Earlier this year, doctors at London Health Sciences Centre in Joseph's native Ontario refused to perform a tracheotomy to extend his life, saying it was futile because the disease was terminal. An Ontario court decided doctors could remove the child's breathing tube.
His family sought help from American hospitals. Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St Louis agreed to treat Joseph, and he was brought to St Louis in March. He spent one month there.
A private family graveside service was held yesterday, O'Donnell said. A public service is possible at a later date, he said.
The "Save Baby Joseph" Facebook page, which has more than 14,000 "likes," had several messages of condolences.
Joseph Maraachli, who became widely known as Baby Joseph, died on Tuesday afternoon, according to Brother Paul O'Donnell of St Paul, Minnesota, the family's spokesman and spiritual adviser. He was 20 months old.
Joseph suffered from the progressive neurological disease Leigh Syndrome. O'Donnell said Joseph's father, Moe, told him the baby died at home surrounded by his family.
He said it was likely that the child died of complications related to his disease but that the cause of death has yet to be announced.
Earlier this year, doctors at London Health Sciences Centre in Joseph's native Ontario refused to perform a tracheotomy to extend his life, saying it was futile because the disease was terminal. An Ontario court decided doctors could remove the child's breathing tube.
His family sought help from American hospitals. Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St Louis agreed to treat Joseph, and he was brought to St Louis in March. He spent one month there.
A private family graveside service was held yesterday, O'Donnell said. A public service is possible at a later date, he said.
The "Save Baby Joseph" Facebook page, which has more than 14,000 "likes," had several messages of condolences.
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