Baby Charlotte lives, but has nowhere to live

When I first blogged about Baby Charlotte around this time last year, she was an example of the struggle between parents who want to give their disabled children every chance at life and medical professionals who seem more interested in cutting their losses. Charlotte's parents repeatedly fought in court to keep the hospital from withdrawing life support from their critically ill daughter, and in some ways, they won: The little girl just celebrated her third birthday, defying doctors' dire predictions. But the story has taken another sad turn; although Charlotte is now able to go home from the hospital, as her parents always claimed would happen one day, there is no home to go to. Her parents have split up, and authorities have judged that neither one is able to give the girl the kind of intensive care she needs on their own. A foster family with that kind of care capability is being sought, but so far without success. Meanwhile, a court order allowing doctors to refuse treatment if Charlotte's health again fails still stands.