A heartbroken Texas family has sued to prevent a hospital from declaring a two-year-old girl brain dead after she was discovered at the bottom of a hotel swimming pool. 

Annelise Camp was celebrating Memorial Day on May 25 in Houston with family when she wandered into the pool after taking off her life jacket, her father, Johnston Camp, told FOX 26. 

Her older cousin pulled her out of the water as family members rushed over and immediately began performing CPR on her before first responders arrived, Johnston said. 

It took almost an hour for Annelise’s heartbeat to come back, and since then, she’s been at Texas Children’s Hospital receiving treatment, her father said. 

But the girl’s family grew concerned after a doctor recommended that the toddler be declared brain dead two days after she was admitted to the hospital.

‘If there’s a one percent chance or that five percent chance of results, we’re going to take it,’ the distraught father told the outlet. 

On Friday, the Camp family obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the hospital from making that determination because they want her to keep receiving the care she needs, according to court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.

The family and hospital have agreed to allow for brain death testing to continue pending a June 11 hearing, records showed. 

Annelise Camp, two, was celebrating Memorial Day on May 25 at a hotel in Houston, Texas, with family when she suddenly fell into the pool

It took almost an hour for Annelise’s heartbeat to come back, and since then, she’s been at Texas Children’s Hospital receiving treatment

‘If she would’ve been declared brain dead, it could’ve greatly limited her ability to receive treatment moving forward,’ he told KTRK. 

Johnston made it clear that the hospital staff has ‘been wonderful,’ but it’s the legal system that is giving the family ‘certain restraints,’ he told the outlet. 

He also said that he has seen his daughter improve, and wants to allow that to keep happening.

‘With all these positive results, you can’t cut her lifeline off four or five days into it and prevent her from additional treatments,’ Johnston stated. 

According to the court documents, the hospital has also agreed to work on trying to get Annelise transferred to another medical facility that can provide more treatment options. 

Brain death testing is set to begin on Friday, or as soon as possible, court records showed. 

Though the situation seems unconventional, it is not uncommon, Dr. Heidi Russell told FOX 26. 

Russell, a medical ethics expert with Rice University’s Baker Institute, said that legal problems like this arise because families and doctors look at cases from two different points of view.

Johnston said that he has seen his daughter improve, and wants that to keep happening

According to the court documents, the hospital has also agreed to work on trying to get Annelise (pictured with her mother and father) transferred to another medical facility that can provide more treatment options

‘The family has not had much time to grieve and process. So there is, I can imagine, a tremendous amount of hope remaining in them that if given a little bit more time, maybe the outcome will be different,’ Russel explained. 

The expert also said that when it comes to brain death decisions, more than one physician is typically involved. 

Doctors often consult with multiple medical professionals, attorneys, leadership, and medical ethics experts to determine the best course of action.

Russell noted that courts get involved when families disagree with treatment options and want more time for the patient. 

A spokesperson with Texas Children’s Hospital acknowledged the case, telling the Daily Mail: ‘Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the family and their loved ones.

‘Our expert and dedicated clinical team is exhausting all medically viable options and we continue to work hard to honor the family’s wishes during this difficult time. Out of respect for their privacy, we are unable to comment further.’ 

Since the near-fatal drowning accident, two online fundraisers have been launched to help support the family. 

Since the near-drowning accident, two online donation fundraisers have been launched to help support the family

A GoFundMe page stated that Annelise is ‘fighting for her life in the PICU’ and that her loved ones are ‘holding onto hope and prayerfully believing for a complete miracle of healing and restoration.’ 

A GiveSendGo page was also launched to help raise funds for the family. 

‘The road ahead is long and uncertain, with extensive medical care, therapies, and support required for her healing,’ the fundraiser read.