Makayla Sault is seen in this video from The Two Row Times, discussing her decision for forgo chemotherapy.

Makayla Sault, an Ojibwe girl from Canada who made headlines when she turned to traditional methods of healing for her leukemia, died on Monday. She was 11.

Makayla was a member of the New Credit First Nation in Ontario. When she refused to continue chemotherapy treatment, her family was reported to child care authorities by the McMaster Children’s Hospital.

The Children’s Aid Society refused to remove Makayla from her family. She explored other methods of treatment but suffered a stroke on Sunday.

"Makayla was on her way to wellness, bravely fighting toward holistic well-being after the harsh side effects that 12 weeks of chemotherapy inflicted on her body," her family said in a statement to The Two Row Times. "Chemotherapy did irreversible damage to her heart and major organs. This was the cause of the stroke."

Get the Story:
Makayla Sault, girl who refused chemo for leukemia, dies (CBC News 1/19)
Makayla Sault, Ojibwe child who refused chemo, dies from stroke (The Two Row Times 1/19)
Makayla Sault likely died from rebounding cancer, not chemotherapy effects: specialist (The National Post 1/20)

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