Sen. Chuck Schumer Arranges Visa For Jewish Girl To Obtain Urgent Care In U.S.

MANCHESTER (VINnews) — A Jewish girl and her family who were at the brink of despair can now breathe a little easier, due to the efforts of Sen. Chuck Schumer and other politicians and activists.

Ten years ago, Avraham Fixler got married and started his life with his wife, Chaya. Two years after their marriage, the couple welcomed a son. After another five and half years, they welcomed their daughter Alta was born. This happy occasion, however, was marred by misfortune. Tragically, Alta was deprived of oxygen at birth, for close to a half hour. This lead to severe brain damage, and Alta began her life attached to a ventilator.

At the time, doctors told the Fixlers that it was unlikely that their daughter would survive for 24 hours. Boruch Hashem, their predictions proved wrong, and Alta, beloved and cherished by her family, survived. Unfortunately, Alta is unresponsive and severely limited in her physical capabilities. The doctors said that because she is unresponsive, she has no quality of life, but the Fixlers made sure that they took care of her and gave her the highest quality of life they could under the circumstances.

After many months in the hospital, it became clear that the hospital was not working toward a plan to send Alta home, but rather they were working to establish a legal basis to remove her from life support.

Thus began a lenghthy legal battle in the United Kingdom.

The hospital and its advisory board went to court, arguing that Alta should be removed from the ventilator. The case was heard in the high court of London from May 19 through May 21. Ultimately the judge said while that he was not fully convinced that the doctors had proven that the child was suffering, he felt he should side with the medical professionals. Despite all the arguments about jurisdiction, citizenship, religious considerations and everything else, the judge ruled that Alta Fixler’s life should end.

Devastated by the court’s decision, Alta’s family began working at a feverish pace to arrange a visa to move Alta out of the country to receive care somewhere else.

Today Sen. Chuck Schumer announced that the visa for Alta has been urgently approved and obtained, which will allow her and her U.S. citizen father, Mr. Abraham Fixsler to travel to the United States and receive care.

“All the Fixsler’s want is to follow their faith and get their little girl the best care in the process,” Schumer said. “The images of little Alta make your heart melt and to know just how much her parents love her inspires us to do all we can to ensure her best chance. Aside from this federal action of securing a visa, I also offer my most fervent prayers to her and her family.”

To help the Fixler family with the exorbitant legal fees incurred throughout this process, as well as to learn more about this story, please click here.