Dad fights to save daughter in US hospital

Richard Ebanks, who is separated from his critically ill daughter Amber by thousands of miles, is enduring an agonising wait. At the last update, a court hearing has decided that the family has 10 days to move her or they are to take her off life support.

"We have 10 days to move her to the facility or else they're definitely going to pull the plug. That is what our lawyer is saying. But we just need to get her moved in 10 days," Katelyn said.

Health officials at the Montefiore Hospital in The Bronx, New York, declared Amber brain dead nearly two weeks ago, intending to remove her from life support. Despite the grim prognosis, Ebanks, who has been unable to enter the US due to visa issues, remains hopeful.

"I am not doing too good. I have not got a response from the embassy since the last time I was in contact with them. My associate, who assisted in filling out the application, tried to contact them and still no response," Ebanks told THE STAR.

Based on documentation, THE STAR has reviewed from Ebanks, the last case update was August 9, which outlined that a US consular officer has adjudicated and refused his visa application. But this was after he was granted the visa and his passport was in retention for processing.

Amber, who moved to New York in 2021 to study business management and accounting, suffered a stroke in February that led to the discovery of a brain arteriovenous malformation. Surgery on July 30 aimed to correct this, but complications left her in a coma. Ebanks' words, filled with both hope and despair, reveal his deepest wish.

"I really want to be by her side," he said. "My daughter is still fighting. She has not opened her eyes but her features look different to me. She look real good in her face and even her skin."

Intense legal battle

Amber's sister, Katelyn Ebanks, gave an update on the ongoing struggles with the hospital's decision.

"To be honest, she don't wake up yet, but she's looking much better to me. Her colour is coming back and she's just looking so much better," she said. Despite this, the process of moving Amber from Montefiore to another institution, New Beginnings in Long Island, also in New York, will take some time.

"The owner of the facility said she would need two weeks to get everything in place, like the nurses and basically everything else. But they already said she's ready to accept her," Katelyn shared. Meanwhile, the legal battle to keep Amber on life support has been intense.

"Our lawyers are trying to get the court to at least put her back on her fluids, so she'll have strength or be in a good state when it's time to transfer her," Katelyn said. "It's really nerve-racking because dad is not here. I am trying my best to make the right decisions. Both Amber and I need him here right now, but I don't know why it's taking so long." There is another court proceeding today in which Katelyn will have to testify.

With all the unfortunate happenings, a glimmer of hope is shining through for the family.

"The facility we're moving her to, the lady not even charging us any money. I'm telling you, God is so great. Even doctors who are not licensed in New York, but they're willing to come here to New York, fly here, to treat her."

"We are banking on the 10 days but Amber still isn't on nutrition or hydration and it was recommended that she be put on those. We need a doctor from New York who is licensed in New York and independent from the hospital to come and assess her. So that's what we're working on right now."

"Once the doctor comes in and assesses her current state, then probably we would relay that to the court for them to put her back on food and nutrition."