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An Oregon woman who refused traditional medical care for her cancer stricken daughter and instead tried to treat her with CBD oil has been sentenced to 90 days in prison.

Christina Gale Dixon, 39, was found guilty of first-degree custodial interference and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment by a jury in Clackamas County following a trial last November. 

The charges stemmed from her attempts in 2019 to prevent her then-13-year-old daughter Kylee from getting surgery to remove a cancerous tumor that was growing on her liver. 

The District Attorney urged the judge to order a 19-month sentence for Dixon, arguing she failed ‘at every turn, at every stage’ to protect Kylee’s health and that the only reason the now-17-year-old is ‘alive today’ is because she received ‘chemotherapy and surgery’.

Dixon, who burst into tears on Tuesday when the judge sentenced her to three months in jail and supervised probation, told the court that she ‘would’ve never put Kylee in harms way’ and ‘did everything to fight for her life’, KPTV reported.

Christina Gale Dixon, 39, wept in court on Tuesday when Circuit Judge Michael Wetzel sentenced her to three months in jail and supervised probation

Christina Gale Dixon, 39, wept in court on Tuesday when Circuit Judge Michael Wetzel sentenced her to three months in jail and supervised probation

Dixon prevented her then-13-year-old daughter Kylee, pictured with Dixon, from getting surgery to remove a cancerous tumor that was growing on her liver. She instead opted to treat the tumor with CBD oil

Dixon prevented her then-13-year-old daughter Kylee, pictured with Dixon, from getting surgery to remove a cancerous tumor that was growing on her liver. She instead opted to treat the tumor with CBD oil

Dixon, pictured during her sentencing in Clackamas Circuit Court on Tuesday, was found guilty of first-degree custodial interference and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment by a jury in Clackamas County following a trial last November

Dixon, pictured during her sentencing in Clackamas Circuit Court on Tuesday, was found guilty of first-degree custodial interference and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment by a jury in Clackamas County following a trial last November

Kylee was diagnosed with undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma in March 2018. 

Several cancer specialists and nearly two dozen consulting physicians at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital all recommended chemotherapy followed by surgery. Without these treatments, they said she would die.

After the third round of chemotherapy, Dixon stopped the treatment prescribed by physicians and instead opted to treat the tumor with CBD oil.

‘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 told Clackamas County Circuit Court, Oregon Live reported.

He added that despite 23 doctors ‘agreeing on diagnosis’ and a treatment plan for Kylee, she ‘said “no”.’ 

Dixon told the court ‘I never wanted to stop her treatment, it was just with this particular doctor’. She said she was fighting for her daughter and ‘put my own life on the line for her’.

The court heard that Dixon fled with Kylee just hours before her surgery was scheduled to take place in June 2019. The girl was located days later in Las Vegas, brought back to Oregon and placed in foster care.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Powell had urged the judge to impose a 19-month sentence, arguing that Dixon, pictured in court on Tuesday, failed 'at every turn, at every stage' to protect Kylee's health. He said the only reason the now-17-year-old is 'alive today' is because she received 'chemotherapy and surgery'

Deputy District Attorney Brian Powell had urged the judge to impose a 19-month sentence, arguing that Dixon, pictured in court on Tuesday, failed ‘at every turn, at every stage’ to protect Kylee’s health. He said the only reason the now-17-year-old is ‘alive today’ is because she received ‘chemotherapy and surgery’

Kylee Dixon, then 13, was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer in 2018

Doctors told Christina that her daughter would require several rounds of chemotherapy followed by surgery

But Dixon opted instead to treat her daughter with CBD oil – not a medically sanctioned treatment. The state intervened to ensure Kylee got the surgery 

Dixon's attorney Greg Oliveros argued during sentencing that although the mother made made several legal missteps, including representing herself at her trial, she does love her daughter. Pictured: Kylee and Christina Dixon

Dixon’s attorney Greg Oliveros argued during sentencing that although the mother made made several legal missteps, including representing herself at her trial, she does love her daughter. Pictured: Kylee and Christina Dixon

Dixon remained on the run until August of 2019, when she turned herself in. She was booked into jail and released the same day. 

Kylee eventually underwent a successful surgery in early 2020, which Powell argues is the only reason she is still alive today.

He urged Circuit Judge Michael Wetzel to impose a longer sentence, but Dixon’s attorney Greg Oliveros sought probation instead.

He argued Dixon made made several legal missteps, including representing herself at her trial, but reiterated that she loves Kylee.

‘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,’ Oliveros told the court as Dixon wept.

Judge Wetzel branded the case ‘very tragic’ and said it was clear that Kylee, who did not attend Tuesday’s hearing, would not have supported a prison sentence. 

He instead ordered she spend 90 days in Clackamas County Jail followed by three years on probation. 

The judge said he considered the family's 'suffering as a result of the girl¿s childhood cancer diagnosis' and Dixon's 'clean criminal record' when making his decision. Pictured together: Christina and Kylee Dixon

The judge said he considered the family’s ‘suffering as a result of the girl’s childhood cancer diagnosis’ and Dixon’s ‘clean criminal record’ when making his decision. Pictured together: Christina and Kylee Dixon

The judge said he considered the family’s ‘suffering as a result of the girl’s childhood cancer diagnosis’ and Dixon’s ‘clean criminal record’ when making his decision.

However, Kylee’s father Jim Dixon, 43, was apparently disappointed in the sentence.

‘I’m glad there’s closure finally,’ he told KPTV, but added: ‘I was a little sad to see how easy she got off on all this considering all the damage she’s done.’

He said Kylee is ‘cancer free now’ and doing well, but is reportedly unaware about his daughter’s current whereabouts.

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This post first appeared on Daily mail

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