KOLN Lincoln reports:
A little girl fights for her life, and her last wish is to see her father. But that wish may not come true.
"They didn't expect her to still be here. She's fighting, day by day, minute by minute," said Vonda Yaeger, mother.
10/11 has followed the story
of 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger as she battled brain tumors. Now doctors
say she is about to lose that fight. Her last wish is to spend what
time she has left with her father, but he is in a federal prison for
drug charges. Less
than six months ago, Jayci was energetic, fun and upbeat. Now she's
just a shadow of what she used to be -- lying in a hospital bed. Jayci has brain tumors and doctors say she's dying. "What
doctors say? They say there's nothing they can do for her. The tumors
are growing and hemorrhaging, and right now nothing they can do for
her, just keep her comfortable," Vonda Yaeger said. In
less than two months, cancer turned an energetic little girl into
someone those who know her hardly recognize. During the fight, her
family has been hopeful, but now reality is setting in. "It's
really hard to say it, but it's time now and she doesn't need to suffer
anymore. She needs to be where she can be peaceful and happy and not in
pain," Yaeger said. There's
one more thing Yaeger said her daughter needs -- her father, Jason. But
he's in federal prison in South Dakota and has been denied repeated
attempts to grant him a 30-day release. Yaeger was convicted of
methamphetamine charges nearly five years ago. "She
expressed many times that she misses him, and he talks to her on the
phone now and she cries. That's the only time I see her cry," Yaeger
said. In fact, Yaeger said the need to see her father is the only thing keeping Jayci going. "I
think she understands. She knows what the outcome is going to be. She's
very scared, and I think she's holding on for her father," Yaeger said.
Yaeger said denying Jayci's last wish is cruel, and goes beyond punishing Jason for any crime he ever committed. "She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes," she said. Jayci's
family said they aren't looking to get Jason out of prison, or shorten
his sentence. They even asked for him to be put on electronic
surveillance while was in Lincoln, and he offered to serve double his
remaining time when he went back. Yankton Federal Prison Camp officials said they had no comment on the situation.
His daughter is dying. He has less than 4 months to go in a minimum security facility and he isn’t even given a 48 hour furlough. This is the BOP at its worst, but it is exactly indicative of who they are and how they operate. Some have stated that the BOP's hands are tied by the laws that congress has passed. However, as I understand, a furlough can be granted at the warden's discretion. That he would choose to deny the furlough in this case is shocking, but sadly to be expected.
Jonathan R.
www.federal-prison.org
What a sad, cruel world. Wait a minute, not the world is cruel, humans are cruel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6GxIuljT3w
Do the crime, do the time.
I only just stumbled on this. Thats a disgrace I can't dbelieve anyone would be denied that, a dying girls request is too much to grant? Exactly who is being punished and what crime is being committed in the denying of her request?
Ah, the heartland, always known for its humanity to man.
Maybe the judge will be flooded out and have to live in a fema trailer next year when the rains come.
really do the crime do the time? the girl didn't do the crime why should she be punished for her dying wish? I mean even people on death-row get a meal of their choice why can't she get something she wants.. what the hell is wrong with this and you