HEALTH

N.Y. facility the 'last hope' for family looking to keep teen on ventilator: lawyer

The Associated Press Published Sunday, December 29, 2013 12:00PM EST

California girl Jahi McMath on life support

In this Dec. 20, 2013 file photo, Nailah Winkfield, mother of 13-year-old Jahi McMath, cries before a courtroom hearing regarding McMath, in Oakland, Calif. McMath remains on life support at Children's Hospital Oakland nearly a week after doctors declared her brain dead, following a supposedly routine tonsillectomy. Her family was expected to appear with hospital officials in court Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 to announce the name of the independent physician they have chosen to provide a second opinion on the girl's condition. (AP / Ben Margot, File)

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The family of a California girl who has been declared brain dead says a facility in New York may be able to accept her and keep her on life support.

Jahi McMath's uncle and lawyer didn't provide the facility's name in a statement Saturday, saying they don't want media attention to affect her chance of being accepted there.

Attorney Chris Dolan said the New York facility is the last hope after two facilities in California backed out.

Timing is short for the family. A judge ruled that Children's Hospital Oakland may remove the 13-year-old from life support at 5 p.m. Monday unless an appeal is filed.

Hospital spokeswoman Cynthia Chiarappa said the hospital has not heard from any facility to discuss how it can accommodate "a deceased body on a ventilator."