Oh, the Irony

Girl Once Comatose and Scheduled for Euthanasia Will Testify Against Attacker

Two and half years ago, Haleigh Poutre, now 14, was brutally beaten into a coma.  After custody was taken from her stepfather, the man who beat her nearly to death, she was made a ward of the state of Massachusetts.  The state sought to remove her life support only six days after obtaining custody.  Her stepfather fought to keep her alive, probably to avoid murder charges, and the slowness of the court system gave Haleigh time to start showing signs of alertness.

From the article:

Fortunately for Haleigh, the slowness of the court appeals process spared her life. The court made its final decision to euthanize her in January, 2006, by which time she was showing signs of alertness. Just days before doctors were going to remove her life support systems she began breathing on her own, and the Department of Social Services halted plans to remove her feeding tube.

Haleigh is now in rehabilitation and is enrolled at the day school at Franciscan Hospital for Children. She can communicate by using a keyboard and computer and can speak some words.

The irony in this case is that Jason Strickland, who faces multiple assault charges, but in the long run ultimately saved Haleigh's life, may be convicted by Haleigh's testimony against him, while the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, which sought to kill her after being told she wouldn't have a "meaningful" life, won't be at court.