Parents Fight To Keep Daughter Alive After She Choked On Popular Snack

#1 Little Mirranda Grace has been on life support for over a week

Little Mirranda Grace has been on life support for over a week, and the doctors are ready to test her to see if she is brain dead, and ultimately turn off her machines.

But her devastated parents, Patrick and Alison Lawson, are desperately trying to delay the tests to see if their two year old will heal of her own account, or at least stay alive for a little while longer.

The little toddler was taken to hospital and intubated after choking on a simple popcorn kernel while at home with her family a week ago.

#2 Patrick Lawson wants more time for his daughter.

"My fear is that my baby's going to go up to heaven," the father-of-four said.

"They're taking great care of my daughter here, I just want them to keep taking care of her," he told NBC.

"All I'm asking for is for time for my baby to heal."

#3 Buying some more time

Patrick is determined not to give up on his little girl. He decided to move the medical battle from the hospital hallways to the courthouse today by filing an emergency injunction to buy Mirranda, some more precious time.

Fortunately he was granted the injunction to keep doctors from performing a test to determine if she's brain dead for at least another day. But it's not much time, the matter will be on Friday at noon US time.

Patrick admits he is still searching for a lawyer to help with the case, but sadly the earliest he has been able to secure an appointment is Monday, after the case is heard.

#4 The day they will never forget

On May 11, Alison's birthday, Mirranda ran into her mother's bedroom and looked straight at her, with eyes huge, making no sound.

Almost immediately she fell to the ground. In shock, her parents quickly checked her mouth, and swept it, searching for any dangerous objects, but they couldn't find anything.

Patrick immediately began CPR on her tiny, still body, but by the time the ambulance got there, Mirranda's heart had stopped.

The cause, according to the family, was a small piece of popcorn.

Later, giving the family some hope, Mirranda's heart started beating again. She was intubated and placed on a ventilator and taken to the Children's Hospital at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical Center, where she has been, unresponsive, and on life support since.

#5 Not giving up

"When I walk into the room and talk to her, her blood pressure goes up, until I come over and tell her, everything's OK, that Daddy's just trying to keep her safe," Patrick said.

Mirranda's family passionately believes she is showing signs of improvement, and is confident she will make more over time. So they are delaying the brain tests as long as possible, because as soon as the hospital gives the devastating diagnosis of ‘brain dead', little can be done to give Mirranda more time to fight.

Her family has set up a crowdfunding page, which is being used to collect donations to finance lawyers, and to gather legal and neurological advice for a second opinion.