HOUSTON -- Annelise Camp, a 2-year-old girl whose parents sued a Texas hospital to prevent doctors from testing for brain death after she drowned in a hotel pool on Memorial Day, has died.
Her parents, Johnston and Joy Camp, announced this week that Annelise had been removed from life support. "Annelise Camp is now with Jesus," the family said in a statement. "While our hearts are broken, we trust in His perfect love, His faithfulness, and His promises."
The family had stated that Annelise still showed signs of life and had sought more time for her to recover or explore treatment options. Breathing tubes were removed from Annelise on Monday, her grandfather Steve Camp posted online. "When this procedure was done, she passed very quickly."
A church service for Annelise is scheduled for next Wednesday in Houston.
Texas Right to Life, an organization that supported the family's legal efforts, stated that the legal victory provided the Camp family with two additional months with Annelise and "a chance to recover from her injury."
Annelise was discovered unconscious in a hotel pool and was taken to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Days later, her parents petitioned a judge, requesting that the hospital not test for brain death, as advised by doctors. Court documents indicated that Annelise's heart was beating, though she was dependent on a ventilator.
The Camps also sought to transfer Annelise to another hospital for further treatment. Texas Children's Hospital stated in court documents that it had contacted 36 medical facilities about accepting Annelise, but 35 declined. The one remaining facility required her to undergo brain death testing before considering a transfer.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton publicly supported the family's position in June, stating on X that Annelise "is fighting for her life and deserves a medical team that will fight just as hard."
Under Texas law, brain death is defined as the irreversible cessation of all brain function. Once a patient is declared brain-dead, a hospital is legally permitted to withdraw life-sustaining measures.
In June, Johnston Camp told KRIV-TV that "the big common denominator is time." He added, "And so when you have time, I know scientifically you can see a certain reading, but she is showing progressive results from her body or complexions, her vitals."
The Camps were eventually able to transfer Annelise to a hospital in Louisiana. In July, they posted on a GoFundMe page that Annelise continued to show "encouraging signs" at the Louisiana hospital, and that they were "pursuing every available option, including specialized and exploratory treatments that show promise."
The family has not disclosed the reason for Annelise's removal from life support.