Posted on 03/24/2008 10:02:07 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
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.
Jayci's family just hopes they have a change of heart before it's too late.
*The prison camp sent out a news release Thursday afternoon detailing why Jason will not be released to see his daughter:
Officials at the Federal Prison Camp are sensitive to the request from inmate Yaeger and his family to allow him to visit his daughter. In response to inmate Yeager's request, he has been escorted by prison staff on three separate occasions to allow him to be with his daughter during this difficult time. Two of these trips have occurred within the past month. We have also assisted inmate Yaeger in maintaining telephonic contact with his family and daughter.
The Bureau of Prisons routinely utilizes furloughs and escorted trips in response to family emergencies, whichever is deemed most appropriate based on a review of security and safety concerns for both the inmate involved and the community.
Bureau of Prisons officials have reviewed inmate Yaeger's request for a compassionate release and have determined his situation does not meet the criteria set forth by the Bureau of Prisons Program ... Inmate Yaeger's request for extended placement in a Residential Re-entry Center is currently in litigation; therefore, we are unable to comment further on this request.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to release or suspend a court imposed sentence. Our agency's mission is to protect society by confining offenders in controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities, which are safe, humane and appropriately secure.
I mean, he's let 20 million ILLEGAL INVADERS come here to kill 25 of us each day.
“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.”
Man, this is harsh. Let him see his kid before she dies...heartless bureaucracy.
So, it appears he has already been allowed to see his daughter...twice. Most articles omitt this. They are just not willing to allow him a 30 day release. Odds are, if his daughter dies, they would not see him again.
According to the article, the bureau of prisons has already allowed him three "field trips" to visit his dying daughter.
Officials at the Federal Prison Camp are sensitive to the request from inmate Yaeger and his family to allow him to visit his daughter. In response to inmate Yeager's request, he has been escorted by prison staff on three separate occasions to allow him to be with his daughter during this difficult time. Two of these trips have occurred within the past month. We have also assisted inmate Yaeger in maintaining telephonic contact with his family and daughter.
He's already seen her twice. He wants a 30 day release and they are not willing to grant that.
My, my. Times certainly have changed. 50 years ago, dying kids asked for watermelon. Now they want to go to Disney World, or to spring their dads from prison!
Read the whole article. They have escorted him to visit his daughter 3 times, including twice within the past month.
?
It’s a sad story, but “If you do the crime you do the time.”
Just think of how many families were destroyed by the drug dealer doing his time.
“Read the whole article. They have escorted him to visit his daughter 3 times, including twice within the past month.”
So that should be it?
just grant him daily visits with a police escort waiting outside of the room where his daughter lays. problem solved.
Father Denied Dying Daughter's Wish
The headline seems to suggest that the Father is truning his back on his little girl.
I think they should allow one more visit. While she is still aware and they can say their goodbyes.
That’s the way I feel, too. Prison isn’t supposed to be pleasant, or easy. It’s punishment for harming society.
It doesn't go into specifics as to what the "methamphetamine charges" were but I doubt it was simple possession.
No, but they haven’t said there won’t be any more visits. Just that they aren’t going to let him out for 30 days. There’s probably more to the story, such as problem behavior while in prison.
“Just that they aren’t going to let him out for 30 days.”
Could be a long 30 days for his daughter.
“There’s probably more to the story, such as problem behavior while in prison.”
Good point...who knows what his prison record is like.
The whole thing is tragic all around.
I don't mean to sound harsh but who's going to pay for that? Maybe the dad should have thought about his family before breaking the law. Just a thought
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
