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Christina Dixon, left, expresses emotion after an Oregon judge sentenced her to 90 days in jail after she defied a court order for her then-13-year-old daughter to undergo cancer surgery to remove tumors. (KPTV/YouTube)
An Oregon judge Tuesday imposed a 90-day jail sentence to a mother who refused to allow her then-13-year-old daughter have cancer surgery in a case that turned into a debate about parents’ rights.
Christina Dixon in 2019 defied a court order for her daughter Kylee Dixon to undergo surgery to remove cancerous tumors from her liver and instead fled their Portland-area home with the girl to Las Vegas. The mother claimed natural medicines such as CBD oils were better options, ignoring doctors’ advice. Cops took the mother into custody and put Kylee in foster care. The girl underwent successful surgery in 2020 to remove the tumors. She’s now 17 and cancer free.
A Clackamas County jury convicted Christina Dixon in November of three felonies: first-degree custodial interference and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment. Prosecutors asked the judge to impose a 19-month sentence. Kylee was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and previously underwent three rounds of chemotherapy.
“After the third round of chemotherapy, she said ‘no,’” said Deputy DA Brian Powell in a video of the sentencing hearing posted by Fox affiliate KPTV. “She said ‘no,’ despite 23 physicians at St. Jude agreeing on diagnosis, she said ‘no.’”
Powell said Kylee is alive today thanks to the surgery her mother would not let her undergo.
The case ignited a debate about a parent’s right to go against conventional medical advice. Some accused the state of “medically kidnapping” Kylee. At least one politician sided with Dixon. Republican state Sen. Kim Thatcher said at the time that a parent has a right to choose.
“Oregonians have rallied behind Kylee and her mother because we believe in medical freedom and the right to a second opinion,” she said in a statement. “No child should be forced to undergo life-threatening, previously failed drug treatments and surgery. The government is working with [Oregon Health & Science University Hospital] and they are gambling with Kylee’s life. This is a moral outrage.”
Dixon started a Facebook group called “Kylee’s Fight” which has about 24,000 followers. Kylee, who did not attend the sentencing, has been living with her mom since the surgery and has appeared in videos in support of her mother.
Dixon said at her sentencing hearing that she always had her daughter’s best interests at heart.
“I would have never put Kylee in harm’s way. I did everything to fight for her life,” she said, choking up with tears. “And I put my own life on the line for her.”
Her attorney Greg Oliveros argued for probation, saying her love for her child clouded her judgment, the Oregonian reported.
Judge Michael Wetzel called the case “very tragic” and said he imposed the lighter sentence in part because Kylee would not want to see her mom in prison.
Kylee’s father Jim Dixon told reporters after the hearing that he’s glad there’s closure to the case but feels his ex-wife got off easy “considering all the damage she’s done.”
“The truth is that Kylee had a tumor that CBD wasn’t doing a thing to help. The only thing that was helping was the treatment that she was getting and she had the surgery and she’s cancer free now because of it,” he said. “We love you, Kylee. We wish you the best.”
