Christina Dixon: Mom who denied teen daughter cancer surgery defying court order gets 90 days in prison
PORTLAND, OREGON: An Oregon judge sentenced Christina Dixon to 90 days in prison on Tuesday, February 27, after she resisted a court order for her then-13-year-old daughter, Kylee Dixon, to undergo cancer surgery.
Christina, who opted for natural remedies like CBD oils over surgery, disregarded doctors' advice and fled with Kylee from their Portland-area home to Las Vegas.
Kylee Dixon's successful surgery leads to cancer-free life
Law enforcement intervened, taking Christina into custody and placing Kylee in foster care. Despite her mother's resistance, the teenager underwent successful surgery in 2020, removing the cancerous tumors, and is now 17 and cancer-free.
A Clackamas County jury convicted Christina in November on three felonies: first-degree custodial interference and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment. Prosecutors sought a 19-month sentence for the mother. Kylee had been diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and had undergone three rounds of chemotherapy.
Deputy District Attorney Brian Powell emphasized Kylee's defiance of medical advice after the third round of chemotherapy and credited the surgery with saving her life. The case stirred a larger conversation about parental rights, with some accusing the state of "medically kidnapping" Kylee, as per KPTV.
Sen Kim Thatcher stands by Christina Dixon, championing medical freedom
Republican state Sen Kim Thatcher supported Christina, advocating for parental choice and the right to a second medical opinion. “Oregonians have rallied behind Kylee and her mother because we believe in medical freedom and the right to a second opinion,” the Senator 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,” she added.
Christina Dixon defends her actions asserting daughter's well-being
The case gained substantial public attention, and Christina started a Facebook group called "Kylee’s Fight," amassing around 24,000 followers. During her sentencing hearing, Christina maintained that she 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 tearfully. “And I put my own life on the line for her.”
Attorney Greg Oliveros argued for probation, citing Christina's clouded judgment due to her love for her child, the Oregonian reported. Judge Michael Wetzel acknowledged the tragedy of the case and imposed a 90-day jail sentence, considering the daughter's probable aversion to seeing her mother incarcerated. Kylee, who did not attend the sentencing, has been residing with her mother since the surgery, actively supporting her through videos on social media.
In response to the verdict, Kylee's father, Jim Dixon, expressed relief at the case's closure but voiced dissatisfaction, believing Christina received lenient treatment “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 claimed. “We love you, Kylee. We wish you the best.”
