Parents Of Brain-Dead Toddler Granted Another Life-Support Extension

VACAVILLE (CBS13) — Two-year-old Israel Stinson from Vacaville who has been declared brain-dead for weeks, has been granted another extension to stay on life support.

The extension was granted Friday, by a federal appeals court in San Francisco.

Israel suffered a severe asthma-attack in April and was declared brain-dead by doctors – but the toddler's family hasn't given up hope.

It's been more than a month since two-year old Israel Stinson was hospitalized and declared brain dead.

But on Friday, the federal court of appeals in San Francisco granted Israel until Monday to stay on life support.
Israel initially had until Friday evening before the extension.

Alexandra Snyder spoke to CBS13 on behalf of the Stinson family, and says it's another chance for Israel's family to work on a new plan to keep their son alive.

"We are so grateful for any time that we have, and we are still looking for another hospital we are still negotiating," Snyder said.

Israel was transferred from UC Davis to Kaiser in Roseville almost five weeks ago.

Because doctors have considered Israel brain-dead, Snyder says Kaiser has been only administering Dextrose to keep him alive.

"We know Israel needs to be moved out of the hospital, he hasn't had nutrition for five weeks now."

Snyder says she has consulted with doctors in the area who believe Israel is not brain-dead.

"I've seen him move in response to my voice to his parents' voice and we know that these declarations can be wrong," Snyder added.

Kaiser in Roseville released a statement Friday saying "Our primary goal is to continue to support the family as they try to cope with this situation...we continue to be ready to work to facilitate the family's request to transfer Israel to another facility, if another placement is identified."

The Stinsons are now looking at several hospitals around the country, asking them to care for Israel.