Traumatic Brain Injury: Judge Grants Request to Keep Baby on Life Support

Austin judge Guy Herman has given a family permission to keep their critically brain-damaged son on life-support. Emilio Gonzales was to have been removed from life-support equipment this week and set a hearing to for further evidence to be presented in the case. Catarina Gonzales, Emilio's mother, said of the decision: "I'm really grateful that we got one week more. I believe that there's a hospital that is going to accept my son and I know there is."

Judge Grants Request to Keep Infant on Life-Support

Children's Hospital of Austin, which has cared for Emilio since December, says that keeping Emilio alive is pointless and causing Emilio pain without medical benefit. The hospital evoked a Texas law stating that hospitals can end life-sustaining treatment in such cases with 10 days notice to the family. Emilio is believed to suffer from Leigh's disease and doctors say that his higher order brain functions are destroyed and he is non-responsive. Emilio's mother disagrees: "I just love my son. I just love him, and I'll do anything for him," she said. "I'm with him 24-7 and he has responded by turning his head and looking at me and opening his eyes."