'Miracle' toddler has brain damage
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The toddler was revived after being found facedown in a swimming pool.
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ORANGE, California (CNN) -- The 22-month-old toddler hailed as a "miracle child" when she was revived nearly an hour after being declared dead has suffered a severe brain injury, her doctors said Wednesday.
After her fall into a swimming pool last month, doctors were unsure whether Mackayala Jespersen could beat the odds again and survive without lasting trauma.
On Wednesday, Dr. Troy McGuire announced that she did not beat the odds.
"She has without question suffered brain injury," said McGuire, who is treating the girl. "The fact that Mackayala is still alive defies medical logic."
Doctors cautioned against expecting a recovery from the brain damage. Mackayala remains in stable condition.
The toddler was discovered floating facedown in a backyard swimming pool November 7. The hospital where she was taken had declared her dead. Then nearly 40 minutes later, the child showed signs of life.
The California Health Department is investigating how Mackayala could have been declared dead by doctors at Anaheim Memorial Hospital who initially examined her.
Mackayala's current physicians said Mackayala's most severe injuries probably occurred in the immediate aftermath of her plunge into the swimming pool.
An attorney for the Jespersen family said they would wait for the results of the state investigation before deciding whether they will file a lawsuit.
