Judge Extends Temporary Injunction For 10-Month-Old Tinslee Lewis Through New Year
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) — A Fort Worth judge has extended a temporary injunction for 10-month-old Tinslee Lewis through the new year, sources say.
CBS 11's Jason Allen said Judge Sandee Bryan Marion found there was a reasonable expectation the family could find a physician to take over treatment.
Tinslee has been hospitalized at Cook Children's Medical Center since her premature birth in February. She was born with Ebstein's anomaly, a rare heart defect that has left her with chronic lung disease and severe high blood pressure.
Last month, the hospital attempted to invoke Texas' "10-day rule" — a law which gives families 10 days to find a new hospital — but Tinslee's family won a temporary restraining order that forced the hospital to keep her on life support until Dec. 10.
The 10-month-old's mother, Trinity Lewis, testified Thursday that her daughter is conscious, "sassy" and loves cartoons. However, doctors say Tinslee is suffering and her condition will never improve.
She is currently in the neonatal ICU and requires full respiratory and cardiac support, in addition to deep sedation to keep her medically paralyzed.
Cook Children's has since released the following statement:
Cook Children's has been dedicated to providing the very best care for Tinslee since her arrival to our hospital 10 months ago. For the entirety of her life, our staff has diligently provided compassionate, round-the-clock, intensive care and attention. We will continue to provide this precious baby the same level of care as we have for her entire life.
We all share the same sense of concern for Tinslee and her family as they face a very difficult situation. Our doctors and nurses have done everything humanely possible to save Tinslee's life. Currently, any care we provide, including feeding, bathing and providing treatments and medication, can cause her little body to experience a medical crisis, which causes even more intervention and pain for her.
We have reached out to more than 20, well-respected healthcare facilities and pediatric cardiac specialists who have the specialized training to continue Tinslee's care, and upon their review, each medical team declined to accept her as a patient. Sadly, she shows no signs of improvement and there are no treatment options available to help her get better.
We would ask that outside groups, even those who disagree with Cook Children's approach, consider what is best for Tinslee now and give the family space to consider what truly is best for this baby, and allow our medical professionals space to care for her.
