Makayla Sault, earlier First Nations child who refused chemo, relapsed: doctor

A Hamilton oncologist testifying at a hearing into an indigenous child who has quit chemotherapy in favour of traditional medicine says in a similar case earlier this year, another First Nations girl stopped her chemo and has now suffered a relapse.

Makayla Sault's leukemia has come back, according to testimony by McMasterChildren's Hospital'sVicky Breakey. Although Breakeydidn't name the patient,it's clear she was referring to Makayla.The 11-year-old girl from the Mississaugasof the New Credit First Nation left chemotherapy treatment at theMcMasterhospital in May to pursue traditional indigenous medicine.

Breakey said although Makayla left the hospital, they have still been monitoring her health.

Makayla's case was investigated by the Children's Aid Society but itdecided not to intervene.

Breakeytestified ata hearing involving another aboriginal girl who also left chemotreatment to pursue indigenous medicine. Her identity is protected by a publication ban.

Breakey said that in this new case, the girl would have had a 90 to95 per centchance of survival if she had continued with chemotherapy. The pediatric oncologist also cautioned that those odds diminishthe longer she is without treatment and said if she doesn't return to chemotherapy, she will die.

Hospital taken to court

McMaster doctors were informed by the girl's mother that they had decided to quitchemoafter 10 days of treatment. The same day, the hospital referred thecase to children's aid.

After investigating, the Children's Aid Society decided not to intervene.

The hospital then decided to take the society to court in an attempt to force it to act.

• McMaster Hospital defends court action to treat aboriginal girl

Brant Children's Aid Society director AndrewKostertestified today that he felt the case should have been heard at the provincialConsent and Capacity Board, which has the powerto determine if the girl had the capacity to make her own decisions about her care.

The girl and her family are not participating in the court proceeding.

In an interview with CBC, her mother said: "As a member of the Six Nations Confederacy, I will not have my decisions of health care for my child debated and judged in the Canadian judicial system. The Canadian judicial system does not have the authority to determine our law or practices, which predates the existence of Canada, valid or otherwise."

The girl iscurrently receivingtreatment at the Hippocrates HealthInstitute, a holistic centrein Florida.Makaylaalso sought treatment at the centre over the summer.

Makayla's family declined to be interviewed, butin a video posted on Facebook on Saturday Makayla proclaimed, "I just want to let everyone know that I'm alive and well and that I am healed."

In a statement released by her band on Friday, they say she is recovering from leukemia and the effects of chemotherapy.

The statement says, "She is under the care of her familyand is receiving traditional medicines to assist with her recovery."

The court proceedings will continue next Wednesday.