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Time Running Out To Find New Facility For Jahi McMath

OAKLAND (CBS/AP) -- The family of a 13-year-old girl declared brain dead after complications from tonsil surgery was running out of time Sunday to find a new facility to take her in and keep her on a ventilator.

A judge's ruling will allow Children's Hospital Oakland to remove 13-year-old Jahi McMath from life support at 5 p.m. Monday unless her family appeals.

The family is now pinning its hopes on a New York facility after two California care homes withdrew offers to accept the teen.

Chris Dolan, the family's attorney, said he was waiting to hear from the New York hospital after its facility director and medical director speak. He wouldn't provide the hospital's name, saying the media attention could hurt Jahi's chance of being transferred there.

"It's an organization that believes in life," Dolan told The Associated Press Saturday. "It's our last, last hope."

Dolan did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Sunday.

Jahi underwent a tonsillectomy at the hospital on Dec. 9 to treat sleep apnea. After she awoke from the operation, her family said, she started bleeding heavily from her mouth and went into cardiac arrest.

Doctors at Children's Hospital and an independent pediatric neurologist from Stanford University have concluded the girl is brain dead.

The hospital wants to remove her from life support, but the family said they believe she is still alive.

Hospital spokesman Sam Singer said Sunday that Children's Hospital will facilitate a transfer if the family finds an outside physician to insert breathing and feeding tubes.

"We'll do our best, if it is within the confines of things that are legal and medically correct, to be of assistance to them," Singer said.

"At a certain point, they have to be able to look themselves in the eye and realize that this young lady is dead and is not coming back under any circumstances."

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