California girl on ventilator to receive diploma

OAKLAND, Calif. - The family of a 13-year-old California girl who was declared brain-dead after suffering complications during a tonsillectomy says she will receive an honorary diploma during her school's eighth grade graduation.

Jahi McMath will receive the diplomat from the E.C. Reems Academy of Technology and Arts in Oakland, her uncle Omari Sealey said Wednesday. He said the diploma will be given to a family member during Friday's graduation ceremony.

Jahi was in eighth grade and scheduled to graduate when she underwent tonsil surgery and two other procedures to treat her sleep apnea at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland in December. She went into cardiac arrest and was later declared brain-dead.

Her family went to court to prevent the hospital from taking her off a ventilator. Jahi was eventually released to them and moved to an undisclosed facility.