8th grader 'brain dead' after tonsillectomy

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An Oakland teen has been declared brain dead three days after having her tonsils removed.

Jahi McMath, 13, entered Oakland Children’s Hospital on Dec. 9 for the routine surgery that was supposed to help fix her sleep apnea, reports NBC Bay Area.

The young girls family is fighting to keep her on life support, while doctors originally planned to take her off support after she was declared brain dead on Dec. 12.

“It’s not even up to us to even keep her on life support, because she’s been legally dead,” said Omari Sealey, Jahi’s uncle told NBC. “It’s so hard for my family. It’s so hard for me.”

Immediately following the surgery, McMath was awake and talking with family. However a short time later, she was choking on her own blood and going into cardiac arrest.

The family believes an error was made, and the hospital is at fault.

Nailah Winkfield, Jahi’s mother said her daughter was in good health before entering the hospital.

“I don’t want to bury my 13-year-old, who came here for a better quality of life,” Winkfield said. “This is horrible. I will not leave without my daughter.”

For more details visit NBC Bay Area.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.