Ohio Amish Family Returns to US, Claims Daughter is Now Cancer-Free After Natural Treatment
The Amish couple who allegedly took their 10-year-old daughter out of the U.S. in order to avoid giving her chemotherapy has reportedly returned to the country but is still in hiding. Family members say that the girl, now 11, is cancer-free after receiving all-natural treatments.
"She's a vibrant, healthy girl," her grandfather, Isaac Keim, told the Akron Beacon Journal. "What kind of gift would that be, if we could get this resolved and they can come back home without a fear of being in contempt of court or having their child snatched away? We're praying every day that this thing can be resolved and they can get their lives back together."
Andy and Anna Hershberger decided to stop chemotherapy treatment after their daughter, Sarah, asked them to do so.
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"She did not want any part of it anymore," Keim explained.
Akron Children's Hospital subsequently sued and had a guardian appointed by the court to make healthcare-related decisions on Sarah's behalf. Andy, Anna, Sarah, and her baby sister fled to Central America for all-natural treatment at a clinic. They recently returned to the U.S. but are still in hiding. Members of the Amish community to which they belong are caring for their five other children.
"The undisputed testimony was without treatment she would die within six months to a year," Clair E. Dickinson, an attorney for the guardian, said earlier this week. "She was last treated in June. We don't know where she is, what her condition is or whether she is receiving treatment. It's pretty difficult to make medical decisions for somebody who you don't know where they are or what their condition is. I would like to see this little girl get whatever treatment would be appropriate at this stage."
Dickinson also noted that there are currently no contempt-of-court charges pending against the Hershbergers. He just wants to see the young girl in person and have her condition evaluated by medical experts at the hospital.
