Nearly a billion dollars has been awarded to a Utah family after their daughter was left permanently disabled following a botched delivery that a judge described as one of the worst cases of medical negligence in the state’s history.

The case centers on 5-year-old Azaylee, whose birth at Steward Health Care in Salt Lake City—now Jordan Valley Medical Center—went tragically wrong. Her mother, Anyssa Zancanella, had enjoyed a healthy pregnancy until October 12, 2019, when her water broke during a weekend trip from their Wyoming home. With no choice but to check into the nearest hospital, she unknowingly entered what would later be called “the most dangerous place on the planet for a baby to be born.”

According to the lawsuit, nurses assigned to her case had barely completed their training—some reportedly finishing on the very day she went into labor. Despite their inexperience, they were allowed to oversee her care and administer labor-inducing medication. The complaint alleged that they gave “excessive” amounts of Pitocin for hours before ignoring warning signs that something was terribly wrong.

When staff eventually checked on her, both mother and baby were showing alarming symptoms. Anyssa had a fever, and baby Azaylee’s blood pressure was concerning. Instead of intervening, the on-call doctor allegedly returned to sleep in a nearby room, leaving the inexperienced nurses to manage the labor. “The obstetrician abandoned mother and fetus when she was fully aware of the dangers,” the lawsuit stated.

More than a full day passed before a C-section was finally performed. By then, Azaylee had suffered severe oxygen deprivation, leaving her with permanent brain damage. She was born with a swollen face, a misshapen head, and visible bruising on her scalp.

Now five years old, Azaylee lives with profound disabilities. She is nonverbal, suffers regular seizures, and requires constant care. Her cognitive and physical functions remain far behind those of other children her age. According to medical assessments, she may never experience milestones such as attending college, working, or driving a car. “Her life was stolen. We all had her taken from us,” her mother said. “I know my daughter is in there, but she can’t come out. I think about that every single day.”

The impact on the family has been devastating. Anyssa and her partner, Daniel McMichael, share a bed with Azaylee because she is too frightened to sleep alone. They devote themselves to her physical and occupational therapy, but the road ahead is filled with uncertainty.

After years of legal battles, Third District Judge Patrick Corum delivered a historic ruling, awarding the family $951 million—the largest amount ever granted in Utah. He condemned Steward Health Care in harsh terms, saying, “The mother would have been better off delivering this baby in the bathroom of a gas station, or in a hut somewhere in Africa, than in this hospital. Literally, this was the most dangerous place on the planet for her to give birth.”

The judge further emphasized that Azaylee had been robbed of the chance to become the person she “deserved to be.” For the family, the verdict is not only a financial lifeline for Azaylee’s lifelong medical needs but also a recognition of the unimaginable pain caused by negligence.

While the ruling cannot undo the damage, it stands as a powerful message about accountability in the healthcare system. For Anyssa, her fight has always been about justice for her daughter. “She is trapped,” she said. “And so are we.”