A 2-year-old girl, Annelise Camp, has died after a nearly fatal hotel pool drowning incident on Memorial Day in Houston, which subsequently led to a legal battle over her care. Annelise passed away on Monday after her life support machines were deactivated, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her parents, Johnston and Joy Camp.
"Annelise is now with Jesus. While our hearts are broken, we trust in His perfect love, His faithfulness, and His promises," her parents stated on the fundraising page. "We know she is fully healed and experiencing the joy of being in His presence. Her precious life will never be taken for granted."
Annelise had been hospitalized for approximately 10 weeks following the near-drowning. Her father previously stated that she had accidentally entered a hotel swimming pool after removing her life jacket. She was discovered unresponsive at the bottom of the pool by her cousin, and her heartbeat was not restored for nearly an hour.
She was transported to Texas Children’s Hospital and placed on a ventilator. Doctors, however, believed she was brain dead after her admission. This prompted Annelise's parents to file a lawsuit against the hospital, seeking to prevent the termination of her life support, citing their "firmly held religious beliefs." Hospital officials released a statement at the time asserting that there were "no imminent plans" to end her care.
A celebration of life for Annelise is scheduled for Wednesday. Her parents expressed hope that her story would inspire compassion, encourage meaningful change, and offer hope to families facing similar circumstances, emphasizing that God used her life to touch many.