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Puppies Rescued From Huge NJ Blaze

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Five buildings were destroyed, at least six people were injured and more than a dozen puppies were rescued after a large, wind-whipped fire ripped through a New Jersey block overnight, firefighters say.

The fire started Wednesday evening inside a Peruvian restaurant at Sixth Avenue and River Street in Paterson, officials say. Flames quickly spread to apartments above and then blew through four other neighboring buildings. 

Crews were able to extinguish most of the flames by early Thursday morning, but the buildings were so heavily damaged that they will have to be demolished later in the day, according to Paterson Deputy Fire Chief Mike Fleming. 

Embers, carried by 40 mph gusts, blew across the street, sparking fires at at least two other structures, Fleming said. Several cars also caught fire. 

Witnesses said the block quickly filled with smoke.

"I looked out the window and I saw smoke all over the place," said a witness. "I ran outside and all you see is flames coming out of the two houses."

Four or five residents and two firefighters were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Fleming said. Homes on both sites of the street were evacuated while crews battled the swirling blaze. About 26 residents were displaced.

Firefighters also rescued more than a dozen newborn puppies from a nearby building. Sharon Faison, the grateful owner of the dogs, called the firefighters "heroes."

Resident Juelz Acevedo says he was able to get his mother and brother out of one of the burning buildings, but was in tears as he watched his home burn.

"I'm just glad everybody's out, but I mean, I lost everything," he said. "Valuable stuff, pictures. You can't replace that." 

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, Fleming said.


Woman Wakes to Intruder at Foot of Bed

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Police are looking for a suspect after a New Jersey woman says she woke up and saw an intruder standing at the foot of her bed.

The man asked, "are you ready for me?" according to police. 

The woman then screamed and the intruder casually walked out the back door of the apartment.

Montclair police say the man did not touch the woman in the home intrusion last Thursday morning.

The woman believes the back door may have been unlocked when she went to bed.

Police released a sketch of the suspect (above).

Anyone with information is asked to call 973-509-4716.

School Bus Strikes Pedestrian

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A school bus struck a pedestrian this morning in Northeast Philadelphia leaving one person hurt.

There were kids on bus when it crashed into the pedestrian at Rhawn Street and Lexington Avenue near Pennypack Park around 8 a.m. Thursday, according to investigators.

The Philadelphia Fire Department confirmed that medics transported one person from the location. The age of that person and the extent of his or her injuries wasn’t immediately released.

None of the kids on the bus were hurt, according to authorities.

The large yellow bus to come to rest diagonally across the intersection.

Police directed traffic around the scene of the wreck.

Click here for more news from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Cosby Carries Fallon on a Tightrope Walk

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Just as he did last year on "Late Night," Bill Cosby took over when he paid Jimmy Fallon a visit on "The Tonight Show."

When Cosby walked out, he looked confused. He walked to The Roots and whispered, "I was called and they told me they wanted me to do the 'Tonight Show'."

"We are the 'Tonight Show'," Fallon said. "Oh, Bill I think I know what's happening. That's not Doc Severinsen. This is a different band."

Doc Severinsen was the trumpeter for Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" until he retired.

The Roots joined in on the fun, intermittently playing the theme music from the science fiction series "The Twilight Zone."

Fallon asked Cosby to sit but the comedian kept standing and going on tangents, telling the audience a story about a music icon.

"Stevie Wonder is a prankster," Cosby said. The 76-year-old explained that the singer will have someone with sight along with him when people visit. The sighted person will tell Stevie what the person is wearing and Stevie will mention features of the person's outfit.

Cosby also told The Roots to play his intro music again, to which they obliged. Afterward, he told a member of the band that he sounded like a man he remembered who sang outside of Manhattan jazz bar "Blue Note" begging for change.

Finally, Fallon told Cosby that he would be the first "Tonight Show" guest to tightrope walk across tape on the floor with a pole. 

While fussing, Cosby walked with the pole with Fallon on his back.

Watch the hilarious tightrope walk above.

Hearing Deals With Storm-Driven Outages

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What can be done differently when winter storms knock out power to thousands?

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Consumer Affairs Committee hearing is dealing with how emergencies are dealt with in the Keystone State.

Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) scheduled Thursday’s meeting to “focus on electric utility storm preparation and response to power outages caused by this winter’s snow and ice storms.”

Representatives from PECO, PPL Energy and First Energy will give testimony in Harrisburg.

Tree trimming and management policies will also be discussed, according to Godshall.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Woman, Kids Struck by Hit-&-Run Driver: Police

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A woman and two children were hospitalized after being struck by an alleged hit-and-run driver in South Jersey this morning.

After striking the trio at Line Street and S 5th Street in Camden, the driver of the other car fled, according to Camden County Police.

The unidentified woman and the children were taken to Cooper University Hospital to be check out after they complained of pain, according to authorities.

Police didn't reveal the extent of the victims' injuries.

SkyForce10 hovered overhead as the victims were put in an ambulance and as police investigated a flipped over vehicle.

The other driver allegedly fled and was arrested a short time later, according to police.

No charges were immediately filed and police didn't reveal details of the crash.

Click here for more news from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Jahi McMath's Family to Be Honored by Terri Schiavo Network

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The family of brain-dead teenager Jahi McMath, who have requested privacy after the Oakland girl was moved to a private and unknown facility, will come out of seclusion this week to be honored by the Terri Schiavo Network for protecting "a loved one against overwhelming odds."

Jahi McMath’s mother, stepfather and uncle are the guests of honor on Thursday evening at the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network's 2nd Annual Award Gala in Philadelphia. Conservative talk show host and author Glenn Beck will be the keynote speaker at the affair. It is unclear whether anyone in Jahi's family will speak publicly.

"Jahi’s family persevered through extreme pressure from doctors, media and public opinion to enable their child a chance to be properly cared for,” said Bobby Schindler, Terry’s younger brother, via email. “The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award honors an individual or family who fought to protect the dignity of a loved one against overwhelming odds. It underscores the unconditional love a family has for a loved one in a vulnerable situation, who needs and deserves to be protected.”

Terri Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years until her husband won a court order to stop giving her life support in 2005. Schiavo's parents and brother, Bobby, had fought to keep the Florida woman alive.

While brain death and vegetative states are two different medical outcomes, both Jahi and Schiavo are now flashpoints for the country’s heated “end-of-life” debate.

The Oakland family thrust themselves into the limelight in December after 13-year-old Jahi McMath suffered complications following a tonsillectomy and tissue removal surgery to help her sleep apnea. For unknown reasons, Jahi suffered massive bleeding and a heart attack and was declared brain dead on Dec. 12, three days after her surgery.

Since Jahi's heart was still beating, her family – devout Christians – battled in court and took center stage to fight to keep Jahi on life support, which the hospital refused to do, arguing in court that doctors do not perform medical functions on people who have died. Jahi’s family won a court order in early January to move Jahi to an unnamed facility that is caring for her, despite three doctors and California law having declared her dead.

Jahi’s exact location is not known, and how her mother has been spending her days has been a mystery to most.

The only public word from Jahi's mother, Nailah Winkfield, since leaving Children's Hospital in Oakland came last month in the form of an open letter, where she wrote that her daughter is doing "much better physically." The last post on the "Keep Jahi on Life Support" Facebook page was on St. Patrick's Day, asking people to remember "Jahi and her family" and continue to pray for them.

Jahi's family had asked in court papers to move Jahi to New Beginnings Community Center in Medford, N.Y., but it is unclear if the teen were ever transferred there.

Terri Schiavo Network spokeswoman Ellen Langas said Jahi’s mother, stepfather Marvin Winkfield and uncle Omari Sealey are all attending the event. Langas said she did not know if the family would be speaking, but added that they are invited to, if they wish. Sealey, who was designated the family spokesperson, did not respond to an interview request on Monday.

Bobby Schindler said it was Jahi’s family attorney, Chris Dolan, who reached out to the Schiavo Network, which is now helping them “at no cost” to connect with the services and professionals they need.

The Schiavo Network shares a common mantra espoused by Jahi’s family: “Families, not hospital boards or politics, should dictate outcomes and they should not be pressured to choose a path that they don’t believe in. Jahi’s family members are dedicated advocates for her well-being and are looking out for her best interests.” 



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Family of Jahi McMath

Rome Street Scenes After Papal Visit

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NBC10's Jim Rosenfield traveled to Rome to interview the Philadelphia delegation that visited with Pope Francis. NBC10.com managing editor Karen Araiza documented their journey in photos.

Philly Council Bans E-Cigarettes

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Using an electronic cigarette is no better than smoking a regular cigarette and should be banned in public places. That's the position every member of Philadelphia City Council took during a vote on legislation that effectively bans the use of the smokeless product.

At a Philadelphia City Council meeting on Thursday afternoon, council members voted 15-0 to categorize e-cigarettes the same way that regular tobacco cigarettes are treated -- meaning the vapor producing products would be banned in most public places and those under 18 would be prohibited from buying them.

The ban still requires Mayor Michael Nutter's signature to become law. A spokesperson for the mayor could not say whether he was planning to sign the bill and said he would, like always, review the legislation and make a decision when he returns from the Papal visit in Rome.

City Councilman Bill Greenlee introduced the legislation that bans e-cigarettes in public under the "Public Places-Prohibited Conduct" section of city code and restricts the sale of the devices to minors.

New York, Chicago -- and the entire state of New Jersey -- are among the municipalities that have already banned electronic-cigarette vapor from public spaces.

Greenlee says the sale of electronic cigarettes to children needed to be banned citing potential safety concerns.

Those caught selling the e-cigarettes to minors could be fined $250 or have their business shut down for some time if several violations are uncovered, according to a copy of the bill obtained by NBC10.com. The bill also requires those under the age of 27 to be carded.

The battery operated devices heat flavored liquids and produce a vapor which is inhaled by the user. The process is called "vaping." The liquids could contain nicotine or simply flavoring.

Minors have been increasingly been using the devices. A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found e-cigarette use has doubled among middle school students. Use by high schoolers has also jumped.

A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics found that vaping is a gateway for teens to use regular cigarettes.

Opponents of the devices say their use by children and teens mimics cigarette use and could instill bad habits. Medical professionals have also highlighted concerns about a lack of regulation and testing to understand what is actually in e-cigarette liquids, which are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

"Based on the limited data that we have seen, I think it is imperative that we keep these devices out of the hands of minors now. We need to protect people, especially minors from the deadly smoking habit.” Greenlee said in a statement.

Once signed, Philadelphia will become the first city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to regulate the sale of the devices. A state senate bill, currently making its way through the legislature, would also ban the sale of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products like nicotine gum to minors.



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

1 Dead, 175 Displaced in Fire at NJ Housing Complex

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One resident was killed and 175 others were displaced when a fire broke out at a New Jersey retirement community Wednesday evening, officials say.

The fire broke out in a single room at the Somerville Senior Citizens Housing complex about 7 p.m., according to Somerville Mayor Brian Gallagher. The fire was snuffed out quickly but the first three floors were damaged, and the building had to be evacuated.

The identity of the resident who died wasn’t immediately available. It’s not clear where or how that person was killed.

Most of the people who were forced out were able to stay with friends and family, Gallagher said, but the Red Cross placed 20 other residents in a local hotel.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Police Chase Leads to Deadly Shooting at AC Outlets

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Police have identified the man that led police on a four town chase at the Jersey Shore that ended with a deadly shootout in the heart of Atlantic City's shopping district.

Antoquan T. Watson, 27, of Williamstown, New Jersey was killed following a pursuit that began along Route 40 in Plesantville, N.J. and made its way through Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Ventnor, N.J. before ending in a hail of bullets near The Walk outdoor outlet mall in downtown Atlantic City, N.J. around 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Pleasantville Police received a call about an armed man at La Escondida, a local restaurant located along the Black Horse Pike. After officers responded, Watson fled in a black SUV, starting the pursuit, according to officials.

During the chase, police say the suspect fired on officers from the window the SUV. Police eventually  caught up with him outside the Eddie Bauer store at Atlantic Avenue and Christopher Columbus Boulevard in Atlantic City. That's where the Atlantic City Expressway ends in the center of the city.

After crashing the SUV into bushes outside the store, police say Watson got out of the vehicle and began exchanging gunfire with officers. At least two Pleasantville Police cars were hit as well as several windows in the area, sources say.

Watson was pronounced dead on the scene. His body was removed from the street hours after the deadly pursuit ended.

"I don't think when they woke up this morning to go to work they thought their lives would be in jeopardy, but indeed that's what the job calls for and today was one of those days," Atlantic City mayor Don Guardian told NBC10's Cydney Long.

No officers were hurt.

 



Photo Credit: SkyForce10 - NBC10.com

E-Cigs Ban Sparks Support, Disdain on Social Media

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Philadelphia City Council voted unanimously to ban e-cigarettes today.

People weighed in on Twitter on the ban and the pros and cons of e-cigarettes. The battery operated devices heat flavored liquids and produce a vapor which is inhaled by the user. Vaping is a term used to describe the action of using an e-cigarette. Suzanne Parratt tweeted that she turned a City Hall security guard onto 'vaping' while visiting City Council chambers. 

City Councilman Bill Greenlee introduced the legislation that bans e-cigarettes in public under the "Public Places-Prohibited Conduct" section of city code and restricts the sale of the devices to minors. Council voted 15-0 in favor of the ban. 

Check out the social media e-cigarettes diatribe below. 

 

Man Shot in Chest

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A man was shot Thursday afternoon in the West Oak Lane section of the city.

The 25-year-old was shot in the chest near Cheltenham Avenue and Broad Street around 3:15 p.m.

He was taken to Einstein Medical Center in critical condition.

No one has been arrested in the shooting.

Philly's Pope Team: 18 Months to Prepare

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Riding a two-day wave of historic and awe-inspiring moments that culminated with a personal meeting with Pope Francis, members of the Philadelphia delegation who flew to Rome in preparation for the pope's expected visit here next year, are headed home.

"It was an incredible, incredible moment," said Eustace Mita, head of fundraising for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, which will be held September 22 - 27.

Mita called his meeting with Pope Francis yesterday in St. Peter's Square surreal. Amid the backdrop of 100,000 people, delegates and spouses were escorted up to the pope's dais at the end of his General Audience, held each Wednesday. Each was introduced to the pontiff and had a brief time to visit while he held their hands and asked for their prayers.

"My wife and I both just thanked him for being an incredible shepherd and incredible leader and from our vantage point he's a great leader of the Catholic Church, but he's also an incredible spiritual leader, you know, he means so much more interfaith-wise now," Mita said.

Dan Hilferty, another of the city's civic leaders who will help raise money for the event, described meeting the pope as a moment that "ranks up there as maybe the most exciting thing that's happened in my lifetime."

For weeks, Hilferty, like many of the two dozen delegates and their spouses, had imagined what the moment would be like when they actually met the pope, and what they might say to him.

But even in the very last seconds as they got closer and closer to the front of the line, with no words committed, Hilferty and his wife Joan relied on the spontaneity of the moment.

"We didn't prepare. And we were standing in line and I looked at Joan and she's starting to well up a little bit and I said, 'Well, what should we say?' And she said, 'Uh, I don't know, what do you want to say?'" They ended up thanking the pope for his leadership, healing and for reaching across cultural boundaries.

"And Joan asked him to pray for us and to continue to lead the church as he is. He smiled, shook our hands we were gone, It was fun," Hilferty said.

On the big TV screens in St. Peter's Square, you could not hear the words being exchanged between the delegates and the Pope, but there was no translation needed when mayor Nutter pulled out a "Pope Francis" jersey from his alma mater, St. Joe's Prep and Pope Francis took it and held it up high. Or when the Mitas presented The Holy Father with a skullcap known as a zucchetto, which he immediately took and placed upon his head.

Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett said he extended a personal invite to the pope on behalf of himself, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Archbishop Charles Chaput. "His response was a very nice smile," said Corbett.

Back in Philadelphia, members of the delegation now have 18 months to raise all the money needed to host an event that could be 10, even 20 times, as big as the crowd they witnessed on Wednesday with the papal audience, if the pope says mass in Philadelphia, as expected on the last day of the World Meeting of Families.

"Imagine the logistics that go behind managing 1 million plus people," Mita said.

Dan Hilferty admits it does sound daunting, but doable.

"Our job is going to be to garner that enthusiasm. Get civic leaders, get political leaders to say, 'Yes, we want to be on board for maybe the most important gathering in the world in 2015,'" he said.

Donna Crilley Farrell, the Executive Director for the event, says the focus now for organizers will be on security, logistics and programming.

"We really have to hit the ground running when we get home and capitalize on this momentum," Farrell said.

"It's an extraordinary opportunity for us to do a number of things to showcase Philadelphia and Pennsylvania and the surrounding area; to focus attention in the family and how important it is and to say the church in Philadelphia is alive and well. We've had some very difficult years, but it's a new day," she said.



Photo Credit: AP

"Dog Walker Watch" Debuts in Local Suburb

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Lower Merion is introducing a new community watch program Thursday night that they are hoping will lead to more eyes and ears on the streets.

"Dog Walker Watch" is a partnership between Lower Merion Community Watch and Lower Merion Township Police that is designed to teach residents to be more aware and alert while out walking their pups. Officers will also train residents on how to effectively report suspicious activity.

"Dog walkers can be a valuable resource in helping to make our community safer," said Matt Peskin, President at the National Association of Town Watch.

Training for the "Dog Walker Watch" begins Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore on Greenfield Avenue.

For more information on the training, click here.



Photo Credit: www.jupiterimages.com

Jersey Jam Report & Christie

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A report that cost taxpayers $1 million dollars and was initiated by Gov. Chris Christie says he was not connected to the "Jersey Jam."

Arrest Made in Willingboro Murder

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Police arrested a 19-year-old in connection with the shooting death of a man whose body was found in a Burlington County, New Jersey park Wednesday afternoon.

The body of 21-year-old Abenego Wesseh was found in a wooded area of Willingboro Fairmount Park around 1:45.

An autopsy determined that Wesseh died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Abdullah H. Sheriff, of Stirrup Lane in Willingboro, was arrested Thursday at Willingboro High School where he is enrolled as a senior and charged with Wesseh's shooting death, according to police.

Sheriff is also charged with Possession of a Firearm.

Bail for the suspect will be set Friday.

No motive for the deadly crime has been released.



Photo Credit: Burlington County Prosecutor's Office

Philly Delegation Returns from Meeting Pope Francis

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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter emerged from U.S. Customs at the Philadelphia International Airport with a smile on his face Thursday afternoon. Nutter and a delegation from Pennsylvania just arrived from Rome after a meeting with Pope Francis.

"I think it was very clear and Governor Corbett would tell you the same, we are certainly very optimistic. The way the holy father received us, they are excited about Philadelphia," said Nutter. "We can't make any predictions but we are very optimistic and we are going to proceed accordingly."

The group traveled to the Vatican to personally invite the pope to come to Philadelphia for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, which is scheduled for Sept. 22 to 27.

In addition to attending the Papal Audience on Wednesday, the delegation got a tour of the Vatican and posed for photos in the Sistine Chapel. The delegates brought gifts to Rome, which included a St. Joe's Prep jersey that Nutter gave to Pope Francis and a Nicole Miller tie given to Archbishop Paglia. Relive their trip via the social media posts below.

 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com - Jim Rosenfield

Mother of Brain-Dead California Girl: 'She is Asleep'

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The mother of the 13-year-old California girl who was declared brain dead after suffering complications during a tonsillectomy says her daughter is "still asleep" in her first interview since relocating her daughter more than 10 weeks ago from the Oakland hospital where the surgery was performed.

"I do not use the word 'brain-death' towards my daughter," said Jahi McMath's mother, Nailah Winkfield, while in Philadelphia for the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award Gala Thursday.

McMath underwent surgery to remove her tonsils, uvula and adenoids to help her sleep apnea on Dec. 9 at the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Following the operation, she suffered massive bleeding and a heart attack.

Doctors at the Children's Hospital Oakland declared her brain dead on Dec. 12, 2013 -- at which point they could no longer treat McMath due to California state law.

"Once death is pronounced and is validated by multiple physicians and well-established tests, as outlined in the law, and a reasonable period has been provided to the family, the hospital no longer preserves artificial respiration and circulation," hospital officials said in a statement.

But the teen's family appealed the law, saying she still showed signs of life.

After a nearly month-long battle, McMath was relocated to an undisclosed long-term care facility on Jan. 5.

"I've learned that if you really want something and you really believe in something, you fight for it," Winkfield said. "One of the main things you fight for is your children."

The battle for the teen led the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network to honor McMath's mother and stepfather, Marvin Winkfield, with their second annual Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award at the Union League in Philadelphia Thursday.

"Jahi’s family persevered through extreme pressure from doctors, media and public opinion to enable their child a chance to be properly cared for,” Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler said.  "More and more these medical decisions are being put in the hands of hospitals and physicians rather than the way that it used to be where the family was the one making these types of decisions."

"We believe in the protection of and the value of life," said Schindler, who considers this a medical rights issue for the disabled. "Just because ... they can't do what an able-bodied person can do, we don't feel like there is any reason to treat that person any differently than a person who doesn't have to deal with those types of injuries."

McMath, who is unable to communicate, moves her arms and legs, turns her head from side-to-side and repositions herself in bed -- even sitting cross-legged, Winkfield said.

"Her movement is a big deal to me," she said. "If somebody was totally, 100 percent brain dead, I don't think they'd be able to move as much as my daughter does."

But the Children's Hospital Oakland stand by its doctors' assessment.

"The loss of a child is a tragic situation, regardless of when or how. Our hearts go out to the family and we wish them peace as they grieve the loss of their child," the hospital statement reads.

Winkfield, however, dismissed the remarks.

"I'm definitely not grieving a loss because I kiss her everyday, tell her I love her everyday," she said. "[The hospital] did everything they could to dehumanize my daughter so that people can really envision a corpse on a ventilator."

Winkfield appreciates the facility currently caring for her daughter, saying they refer to her by name and treat her like any other teenager.

McMath's mother also takes steps to create a sense of normalcy for her daughter.

"I give her a manicure and pedicure every Friday," she said. "It's mandatory because that's what we did when we were at home."

Her daughter also has her hair braided and listens to music, like Rihanna and Beyonce, on her iPod regularly, Winkfield said.

"She is blossoming into a teenager before my eyes," said Winkfield, who plans to remain by her daughter's side for as long as it takes.

"I can do it as long as her heart is beating and as long as my heart is beating."

You can watch the full interview with Nailah Winkfield and Bobby Schindler on NBC10 @Issue March 30 at 11:30 a.m.


Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Nutter Returns from Rome

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NBC10's Harry Hairston caught up with Mayor Michael Nutter at the airport fresh from his flight home from meeting the Pope in Rome.
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