Parents: Sick girl waited 5 hours for care

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A California couple say they waited for five hours in a hospital emergency room while a deadly infection ravaged their daughter's body.

Malyia Jeffers, 2, ended up losing both lower legs and a hand to the streptococcus A infection, the Sacramento Bee reported. She remains in Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University and her survival is not guaranteed, doctors said.

Ryan Jeffers said his daughter was clearly seriously ill and had a temperature of 103 degrees when he and his fiancee, Leah Yang, brought her to the emergency room at Methodist Hospital in Sacramento in early December. Five hours later, when a doctor finally examined her, he said her liver was failing and she ended up being flown to Stanford in Palo Alto, a ride that cost $26,000 uncovered by insurance.

"I'm angry, but I can't deal with that right now," he said. "I just want my daughter to get better."

Methodist refused to comment on the case.

Jeffers said Maliya, while still breathing through a tube, is showing signs of recovery. She is able to watch television and to answer questions.

"She's a spirited little thing, and she's definitely daddy's girl," said Dr. Deborah Franzon, who is treating her at Stanford.