Parents fight to keep their son alive

Baby Isaiah James May will remain on life support for at least one more week after a judge decided on Tuesday to delay the decision to remove his ventilator.

Isaiah was born to parents Rebecka and Isaac May on October 24th, 2009 in Rocky Mountain House. During the delivery the ubilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck causing severe oxygen deprivation. Little Isaiah was immediately airlifted to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton where he remains a patient in the neonatal intensive care unit. He has been on a ventilator since he arrived at the Stollery and is fed through an IV tube.

The Mays were informed on the 13th of January that the hospital planned to remove their son from life support on the 20th of January. Doctors claim they have done all they can and that Isaiah will never recover from the lack of oxygen he suffered at birth.

"Your treating physicians regretfully have come to the conclusion that withdrawal of active treatment is medically reasonable, ethically responsible and appropriate," the letter reads. "We must put the interests of your son foremost and it is in his best interests to discontinue mechanical ventilation support . . .

"You have our deepest sympathies at this difficult time."

The defense is asking for 90 days to find an independant physician to examine the baby.

Brent Windwick, the lawyer representing the Stollery Children's Hospital and Alberta Health Services is asking for a decision within 30 days, since doctors and caregivers at the hospital are also distressed by the situation.

"The stresses the family (are) under (are) unimaginable and every effort is being made to be respectful of that," said Windwick.

With files from the Edmonton Journal