By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Couple Admits to Failing to Provide Necessaries of Life (WARNING- Graphic details included)

May 16, 2016 | 2:46 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A Blood Tribe couple entered guilty pleas Monday morning to a charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life, for endangering the life of their 9-year old daughter.

The case against the two individuals — who can’t be named — is centered around a period of time from September of 2012 to June of 2013.

After returning from a treatment program, the father noted that he was concerned by the child’s lack of appetite and complaints of a sore mouth, but when she didn’t want to see a dentist they didn’t make her go.

It was on June 30, 2013, that a family member suggested the parents take her to a hospital as she appeared very ill.

When she arrived at the Cardston hospital in the emergency room, she was dehydrated, had severe low blood sugar, a high pulse and respiratory rate, couldn’t communicate, and had “a foul smell draining from her facial accesses that filled the entire emergency room.” There was also massive swelling to her face, parts of her jawbone were visibly exposed on both sides and there was lice throughout her hair.

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After being resuscitated she was airlifted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, with the attending physician noting that she had a “severe overwhelming infection” and that her chances of survival were low.

The girl had to be intubated for seven days in the ICU and was treated for septic shock, severe malnutrition and later pancreatitis, which was likely caused by sepsis or the malnutrition.

A doctor at the children’s hospital stated that based on the condition the child was in when she was brought to the emergency room, the infection had likely been progressing for a period of weeks or even months. She added that the swelling and skin breakdown would have been very obvious.

While she survived the ordeal and is now in good health, she will require further surgeries going forward and is receiving psychological therapy for medical trauma and neglect. She has also been removed from the home along with her two older siblings.

The Crown acknowledged that both parents fully cooperated with authorities during the investigation.

Pre-sentence reports have been ordered for the couple, with the case returning to court on June 20 to set a date for sentencing.