Young girl removed from life support
Born injured by crash caused by drunk driver
PRINCE A L BE RT, SASK. • A little girl who survived a car crash that killed her 17- year- old mother more than four years ago has been taken off life support in a Prince Albert, Sask., hospital.
Aurora Sky Brandi Ledoux was still in her mother’s womb when she suffered a head injury in a June 2013 collision caused by a drunk driver.
Jeremiah Jobb was driving at three times the speed limit and had a blood alcohol limit 21/2 times the legal limit when he struck a vehicle driven by 21- year- old Taylor Litwin.
Litwin died at the scene and his passenger, Brandi Lepine, died shortly after giving birth to Aurora by emergency C-section.
The baby was placed in the care of her grandmother, Josephine Ledoux, who confirmed on Tuesday that the family decided to take Aurora off life support after she spent her entire life in and out of hospital.
In a recent Facebook post, Ledoux wrote that Aurora has been in the hospital for two weeks, on morphine and oxygen to help ease her pain.
“Aurora is still with us. Until the day she decides to fly into that beautiful blue sky,” she wrote. “We are all here praying, crying, telling stories of how we all have fond memories of her.”
She wrote t h at their hear t s are hur t i ng , but yet they smile because she doesn’t feel the pain. Ledoux extended her thanks for their support.
“She will eventually leave us. But that’s all up to her now.”
Almost from birth, Aurora had seizures and required constant medical attention. In recent days, she has been on a monitor to keep track of her pulse rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels. In a statement, the family said the tragedy should be a reminder of the damage impaired driving can cause.
Jobb was sentenced in 2015 to four years in prison.
A close family friend says Aurora’s story shows the l ong- term i mpact of i mpaired driving.
“The consequences go on and on and on,” said Denise Hodgman. “Josie and (grandfather) Leo, they have been amazing in how, day and night, they are just there for Aurora, constantly taking care of her needs.
“Now that she is passing, what a huge void that is going to leave in their lives.”
Aurora’s pediatrician, Dr. Ayaz Ramji, said: “You wish that anyone who potentially drinks ( and drives) could spend a day or hour with Aurora to see the impact of a life of a childhood wasted.”