A terminally ill baby at Children's Hospital of Austin will have at least 18 more days before he is taken off life support after lawyers for the hospital and the boy's mother agreed Tuesday to give his mother more time to seek another hospital to care for him.
The agreement to leave 16-month-old Emilio Gonzales on a respirator until 5 p.m. April 10, rather than turning off the machine on Friday, came after his mother sued the hospital Tuesday and after lawmakers appealed to the hospital to change its decision.
"Thank you, Lord Jesus. . . . I am so happy that I have more time," Emilio's mother, Catarina Gonzales, 23, of Lockhart, said as she burst into tears at the news Tuesday evening.
Emilio has become a cause célèbre of organizations in Texas and across the country that say the law usurps the rights of loved ones to make life-and-death decisions. Gonzales' growing group of supporters includes state lawmakers, right-to-life and disability rights organizations, and even the brother and sister of Terri Schiavo, who died in Florida after a bitter court fight two years ago.
Friday deadline to unhook respirator National groups, including Schiavo's siblings, involved in case
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Who was murdered two years ago.