Daughter Dying, Dad Can't Leave Prison

(CBS)  Ten-year-old Jayci Yaeger is dying of brain cancer, and has one final wish -- to have her father spend some time at her bedside before she dies.

She's in a Lincoln, Neb. hospice.

However, her father, Jason Yaeger, is in a federal minimum security prison in South Dakota, serving five-and-a-half years for a drug conviction. He has less than a year left in his sentence, and is set to be released to a halfway house in four months.

Jason and the Yaeger family have appealed many times to the warden for a 30-day supervised release, which could be allowed under "extraordinary circumstances." However, the family says these appeals have been denied, and the prison tells them the circumstances are not "extraordinary."

"She's very scared," Jayci's mother, Vonda Yaeger says, "and I think she's holding on for her father. She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes."

Jason, she says, was always a very good father to Jayci.

The Early Show had an exclusive interview with Vonda on Thursday.

Click here

to see the interview.

Vonda said "the tumors are growing and hemorrhaging, and right now there's nothing they can do for her, just keep her comfortable," reports CBS News affiliate KMTV in Omaha, Neb. "She's very scared, and I think she's holding on for her father."

KMTV's Michelle Bandur reports that the family says they'll keep fighting to get Jason out to grant his little girl's last wish. "She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes."

[tlgrindle]

I AM SO TIRED OF CHILD MOLESTERS AND RAPIST GETTING NEXT TO ZERO TIME AND EVEN THE THOUGHT OF THEM BEING INCLUDED IN THE THREE STRIKE LAW YET PEOPLE WHO DO LESS VIOLENT CRIMES ARE BEING TREATED LIKE ANIMALS WHEN WE ALL NO WHO THE ANIMALS ARE. THIS MAN MAY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW YES, BUT HE IS NOT A VIOLENT OFFENDER AND HAS A RIGHT AS A HUMAN BEING (NON ANIMAL) TO BE BED SIDE WITH HIS CHILD AS SHE PASSES. WHY IS THE SYSTEM PUNISHING THIS CHILD? AND YES THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING- MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION MOVES MOUNTAINS TO SEND DIEING CHILDREN ANYWHERE TO SEE ANYONE WHY ISN''T OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WILLING TO SIMPLY GIVE AN INCH? HEARTLESS ANIMALS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BECOME. THINGS LIKE THIS MAKE ME ASHAMED OF WHAT OUR NATIONS JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS BECOME !!!! MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THIS LITTLE GIRL AND HER FAMILY..TLG

[apbleu]

KARMA is a B**** MR WARDEN. I hope you need a rare blood someday when your dying of cancer. Don''t worry the media will remind us who you are and why we should not donate

[apbleu]

To the powers that be who may not let this man out to help his daughter die just remember karma is a B****. Some day if your sick and dying you may need something. Let the man out and make him serve twice the days for the time he is out. This guy is not dangerous the warden with his big EGO is the dangerous one! KARMA MR WARDEN IT WILL SLAP YOU UPSIDE YOUR FAT HEAD WHEN YOUR OLD AND TIRED.

[apbleu]

To the powers that be who may not let this man out to help his daughter die just remember karma is a B****. Some day if your sick and dying you may need something. Let the man out and make him serve twice the days for the time he is out. This guy is not dangerous the warden with his big EGO is the dangerous one! KARMA MR WARDEN IT WILL SLAP YOU UPSIDE YOUR FAT HEAD WHEN YOUR OLD AND TIRED.

[apbleu]

To the powers that be who may not let this man out to help his daughter die just remember karma is a B****. Some day if your sick and dying you may need something. Let the man out and make him serve twice the days for the time he is out. This guy is not dangerous the warden with his big EGO is the dangerous one! KARMA MR WARDEN IT WILL SLAP YOU UPSIDE YOUR FAT HEAD WHEN YOUR OLD AND TIRED.

Please write President Bush and Vice President Cheney and respectfully ask them to intervene on Jayci''s behalf. Please do not interject any criticisms or political leanings, be concise and appeal for a temp. leave for Mr. Yeager. Contact President Bush at [e-mail] and V-P Cheney at [e-mail] or call [phone]
Please contact them ASAP.

[jryan262]

At a federal minimum security prison, the inmates drive trucks, work in outside jobs and are restrained only by a line painted on asphalt. The warden must maintain the illusion that this is custody otherwise, taxpayers will begin to understand that this is just another boondoggle designed to spend their (your) money. As someone who was once involved in politics, I can assure you the first dollars coming into a state gubernatorial campaign comes from companies like CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) or Wackenhut Security - both who run privatized prisons.
Wake up America!
We have the largest per capita prison population in the world. And it is designed to perpetrate fantasies like the drug war, a joke that supports the Congressional gravy train. Intelligence operatives also understand that the drug war supports an underground economy for terrorist weapons purchases across the globe.

My heart goes out for this young father and his daughter.

[jryan262]

At a federal minimum security prison, the inmates drive trucks, work in outside jobs and are restrained only by a line painted on asphalt. The warden must maintain the illusion that this is custody otherwise, taxpayers will begin to understand that this is just another boondoggle designed to spend their (your) money. As someone who was once involved in politics, I can assure you the first dollars coming into a state gubernatorial campaign comes from companies like CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) or Wackenhut Security - both who run %u201Cprivatized%u201D prisons.
Wake up America!
We have the largest per capita prison population in the world. And it is designed to perpetrate fantasies like the drug war, a joke that supports the Congressional gravy train. Intelligence operatives also understand that the drug war supports an underground economy for terrorist weapons purchases across the globe.

My heart goes out for this young father and his daughter.

[jryan262]

At a federal minimum security prison, the inmates drive trucks, work in outside jobs and are restrained only by a line painted on asphalt. The warden must maintain the illusion that this is %u201Ccustody%u201D otherwise, taxpayers will begin to understand that this is just another boondoggle designed to spend their (your) money. As someone who was once involved in politics, I can assure you the first dollars coming into a state gubernatorial campaign comes from companies like CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) or Wackenhut Security - both who run %u201Cprivatized%u201D prisons.
Wake up America!
We have the largest per capita prison population in the world. And it is designed to perpetrate fantasies like the drug war, a joke that supports the Congressional gravy train%u2026 and as understood by intelligence operatives%u2026 supports an underground economy for terrorist weapons purchases across the globe.
My heart goes out for this young father and his daughter.

[geemee3]

Want to do something about this? Here''s who to call:
Yankton Federal Prison Camp
1100 Douglas Ave
Yankton, SD 57078
[phone] press "0" and tell them you wish to comment on the Jason Yeager release situation -they will likely transfer you to their public affairs persons, Linda Asher or Jeanne Mork

Also, call the Governor:
Contact Governor Rounds
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
605.773.3212

Calling, sending a letter or postcard, and letting them know you feelings - AND if you do, that you have influence with voters and/or businesses in that state - can be helpful.

Take action!