Parents Don't Believe She is Dead...

[oldr_n_wsr]

meaning that her brain and brain stem have irreversibly ceased functioning.

Doesn't the brain stem control the heart beat as well as breathing?

[Joe Guy]

That's why her body will stop working if she is unplugged. Right now they're only maintaining her body but that won't even work after a while.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Is she on a heart machine too? I thought just a ventalator and feeding/fluids.

[Big RR]

oldr--as I recall from college, certain organs, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver can continue to function after brain death for some time so long as respiration is maintained and they receive oxygen, although they will eventually fail.