The Oakland girl who became brain dead following a tonsillectomy was released from Children's Hospital Oakland on Sunday night to her parent's custody.
The Oakland Tribune reported that 13-year-old Jahi McMath was transferred to an undisclosed long-term care facility by Monday morning.
The family's attorney said that McMath's condition had worsened since she underwent surgery in December. Christopher Dolan told the Tribune that her body had "deteriorated so badly," that he wasn't sure she'd live through the complications.
"Right now, we don't know if she's going to make it," Dolan told reporters during a press conference on Monday. He confirmed that Jahi was "safely where she needs to be," housed in a facility where she's getting fed nutrients, an action that Children's Hospital Oakland insisted would be of no use.
Mother Nailah Winkfield reportedly exited the Oakland hospital with her teenage daughter shortly before 8 p.m., after a "tense, but smooth," transfer from doctors that went on for about 45 minutes to an hour.
"The only thing I can equate it to is a hostage negotiation," Dolan described. "As soon as we would get one obstacle cleared, another obstacle would appear."
Omari Sealey, Jahi's uncle, described moving Jahi's body out of the hospital as an emotional experience.
"My sister was crying," he said. "I kissed her forehead and told her, 'I'll see you soon.'"
Sealey added that the family was glad to have Jahi's body transferred to the new facility.
"We're not going to play God," he said. "If her heart stops beating while she's hooked to the ventilator, we can accept that."
The name of the facility has not yet been publicized, the Tribune reported.
Jahi McMath became the center of much debate after she entered a brain dead state following a surgical procedure. The McMath family insisted that Children's Hospital keep the 13-year-old girl on life support, but doctors at the hospital maintained that the girl was practically dead, and having her remain on a ventilator would be fruitless.
A legal battle ensued that reached the state level - the family filed multiple appeals to have Jahi remain on life support, then requested to move her out of the hospital.
