An Oregon mother is headed to jail for the way she chose to handle her daughter's medical care, and her child is devastated. Christina Gale Dixon, 39, was convicted of first-degree custodial interference and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment in the fall for going against medical advice in 2019 and treating her daughter's liver cancer holistically with CBD oils. Her daughter, Kylee Dixon, now 17, survived the illness and is doing well.
The teen will have to live without her mother by her side during her 90-day jail sentence. The pair kept followers informed about their case on the Facebook page Kylee's Fight. The teen posted her mother was taken into custody on February 27, and the young woman's heart "is shattered."
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At first, the mother treated Kylee's cancer with traditional medicine.
Per the Oregonian, Kylee was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and she underwent three rounds of chemotherapy. In late 2018, the Oregon Department of Human Services got involved with the case after the mother stopped following physicians' recommended course of treatment for Kylee. She fled the state with her daughter in 2019, hours before a scheduled surgery.
"She took her daughter off chemotherapy, refused to re-engage in any sort of oncological care in favor of CBD oil, vitamins and other homeopathic remedies, putting her daughter at risk of death," Deputy District Attorney Brian Powell said in court, according to the newspaper.
Police found her a few days later in Las Vegas.
The Oregonian reported that the teen was taken back to Oregon and placed in foster care. She had a successful surgery in 2020, and her cancer is reportedly in remission.
During Christina Dixon's sentencing hearing, Dixon's attorney, Greg Oliveros, spoke. "And while maybe she made some mistakes in terms of getting her treatment and proper care, I think one could argue her love for her child clouded her common sense or judgment," he said.
Christina Dixon was sentenced to three months in jail.
She will serve 90 days in Clackamas County Jail, followed by three months of probation, according to the Oregonian. The mother reportedly sobbed during the hearing and her family said goodbye as she was taken away in handcuffs. Kylee was not present at her mother's sentencing.
The teen took to social media to defend her mother.
In a Facebook post, Kylee Dixon condemned the court's ruling.
"I just wanted to come on here really quick and give y'all a quick update. on February 27 my mom was taken into custody, my heart is shattered, this is the time i need my mother the most and they ripped her away from me AGAIN. i don't understand how they could incarcerate my mother who just wanted a second opinion after dr. schlis was sabotaging and lying so i couldn't get transferred to a different hospital. she sent me home with two weeks to live and THAT is when we tried other treatment," she wrote in her post.
The teen ultimately defended her mother writing, "me NOR MY MOTHER EVER REFUSED TREATMENT BESIDES A SURGERY I DID NOT WANT NOR DID I NEED AND MY MOTHER VOICED THAT FOR ME BECAUSE NOBODY WAS LISTENING TO ME. the news LIES and says we only tried cbd which all of you who have been following our story KNOW that we partnered with MANY doctors all over the country to put together a custom treatment for me and THAT IS WHY IM CANCER FREE."
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Supporters left words of encouragement for Kylee Dixon.
The mother and daughter have been met with lots of love and support.
"Be at Peace Kylee. They didn't win! You and your Mother won and they know it because you're the living proof of what she did to save your life from them all! She taught you a lot of strength in your journey together against the evil forces and I'm very proud of both of you. She will be home soon," someone wrote.
Others condemned the courts.
"What a joke our Justice system is! Absolutely Outrageous! Remember, this is only temporary. It's terrible but she will be home before you know it," one person wrote.
Many people offered prayers.
"I'm so sorry to hear this Kylee. Please know that God is with you and your Mom while this storm is happening. This will come to pass. Your mother did the right things to protect you and get you better," one person shared. "No good person doubts that. The system does not get any credit for what they are doing. Thank you for posting the info in support of your mother. I'll continue to pray for you and her to be under God's love and protection. We all love you and your Mom!"
The teen has asked for donations to fund her mother's commissary account to help make her jail time more comfortable.
