So there’s this amazing story. About a beaten girl, mistreated by her family and then the government agency charged with protecting her. A kid who is currently defying a court-okayed death order and fighting for her life, despite the experts who were ready to bury her.

This is happening in Boston. You go to the Boston Globe site, you scroll a little, and you come upon “DSS sought early end to life support.” “How about Abused 11-Year-Old Fights for Life.” Or, “So Much for ‘Vegetable’”–which might be closer to where I’d go with it.

I am probably just being grouchy, but I want everyone to know this kid’s name. Haleigh Poutre, eleven years old. They said she was a vegetable. They said she had no hope. A court, earlier this week, okayed taking her off life support—”letting her go” as they say. (The one arguing for keeping her alive, in this terrible story, was her stepfather…who faces homicide charges if she winds up dead.) Well she’s breathing on her own today.

This little girl is as innocent as you get. There is no husband, claiming she’d want to be dehydrated. There is no spouse vs. parents controversies to confuse matters. This is a girl who was dealt an awfully bad deal in life who clearly wants to live, regardless. And has the power, just by fighting her fight, to teach us a stirring message, an essential one: to err on the side of life. Folks didn’t in her case, but she’s doing her best anyway. Good luck, kid. And thanks.

Not to reopen old wounds (and arguments), but, if you can spare a prayer today, make it a two-parter: That Haleigh gets what she needs and that we learn.