Actions

Parents pay $30,000 to court in fight to keep daughter on life support

Posted at 7:38 PM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-15 19:41:01-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- There are new developments in the legal battle happening in Richmond involving a child on life support.

Mirranda Grace Lawson has been at VCU Medical Center since she choked on a piece of popcorn in May. Her parents are in a legal battle with the center over their right to keep Mirranda on life support.

Paperwork filed in court Wednesday shows the hospital cannot perform an apnea test on Mirranda Grace Lawson to determine brain death if the parents post an appeal bond. Their attorney, Phillip Menke, explained the judge agreed that if the family posts a $30,000 appeal bond by Friday, then the hospital cannot perform the apnea test. If they do not post bond, then the VCU Health System can perform the test on

If they do not post bond, then the VCU Health System can perform the test on Mirranda.

Doctors treating her say she is past the point of recovery, and the test will prove it.

Her parents object to the test because they believe it is harmful. They say she just needs more time to heal and is showing signs of improvement.

Lawson's attorney told us they posted the appeal bond today. Now they have three months to file a petition to try to get the case before the Virginia Supreme Court.

Patrick Lawson, Mirranda's father said he thinks the $30,000 is extreme, but worth every penny. He doesn't care how many years it takes to pay it back if it means another chance for his daughter to wake up.

The hospital provided a statement following the ruling:

The VCU Health System remains fully committed to providing the highest level of compassionate and specialized care to Mirranda and support for her family.

CBS6-News-at-4pm-and-Jennifer-Hudson-480x360.jpg

Entertainment

Watch 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' weekdays at 3 p.m. on CBS 6!

📱 Download CBS 6 News App
The app features breaking news alerts, live video, weather radar, traffic incidents, closings and delays and more.