Mother who wanted to treat 13-year-old daughter's cancer with cannabis oil instead of surgery arrested
PORTLAND, OREGON: An Oregon mother was arrested on Thursday, August 15, after refusing cancer treatment for her 13-year old daughter.
Christina Dixon had turned to naturopathy and cannabis oil and claimed it shrunk her daughter's tumor when chemotherapy couldn't.
In February 2018, Kylee Dixon was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer. She underwent six months of chemo treatment and other procedures. However, her mother, Christina, refused further treatment and turned to a regime of 'natural remedies' including herbs, vitamins, and cannabis oil, according to Nine.com.au.
While the mother insisted the treatment shrunk the tumor, medical authorities were concerned about Kylee's wellbeing as her mother continued to deny chemotherapy.
Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a court order to have the teen removed from her mother's custody.
Soon after, Christina fled taking her daughter and hiding in Las Vegas before the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tipped off the local police.
Kylee was taken into protective custody on June 13 while Christina faced charges of child neglect.
The mother turned herself in to the cops on Thursday morning.
She was arrested on two counts — first-degree custodial interference and first-degree criminal mistreatment.
"I wouldn't think this is possible for any parent to [be arrested for this]," she told FOX 12 after being booked.
"Getting charged for helping my daughter live makes no sense."
Meanwhile, in an emotional YouTube video, Kylee said: "The doctor didn't like that my mum was able to do that all with natural medications, so they sent CPS after us and took all my mum's medical rights away."
The 13-year-old claimed that her mother was told refusal of treatment would lead to Kylee's death, but Christina "rebuked that information" and claimed doctors were "slowly killing [Kylee] with chemotherapy".
It appeared that she supported her mother's decision. Some members of their local community seem to share Kylee's opinion too.
"They're forcing treatment on [Kylee], they're not letting [Christina] have a chance to get second opinions and talk to other doctors," a family friend told KGW News.
However, the doctors had a different view on the matter. They said she still required medical treatment, including surgery to remove the remains of her tumor, and a potential liver transplant.
The medical battle has been doing the rounds on social media as well.
"CBD oil and vitamins are not going to cure her cancer," wrote a person on Twitter.
"Pseudoscience is destroying decades of scientific achievement in cancer treatments."
Others felt that it is a parent's right to decide what is best for their children.
For Kylee, all she wants to be able to live a normal life free of cancer.
"All I want is to go back to school and to feel like a normal kid. I don't want to have to wonder if I'm going to live or die," she said in the video.
