A little girl fights for her life, and her last wish is to see her father. But that wish may not come true.

"They didn't expect her to still be here. She's fighting, day by day, minute by minute," said Vonda Yaeger, mother.

10/11 has followed the story of 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger as she battled brain tumors. Now doctors say she is about to lose that fight. Her last wish is to spend what time she has left with her father, but he is in a federal prison for drug charges.

Less than six months ago, Jayci was energetic, fun and upbeat. Now she's just a shadow of what she used to be -- lying in a hospital bed.

Jayci has brain tumors and doctors say she's dying.

"What doctors say? They say there's nothing they can do for her. The tumors are growing and hemorrhaging, and right now nothing they can do for her, just keep her comfortable," Vonda Yaeger said.

In less than two months, cancer turned an energetic little girl into someone those who know her hardly recognize. During the fight, her family has been hopeful, but now reality is setting in.

"It's really hard to say it, but it's time now and she doesn't need to suffer anymore. She needs to be where she can be peaceful and happy and not in pain," Yaeger said.

There's one more thing Yaeger said her daughter needs -- her father, Jason. But he's in federal prison in South Dakota and has been denied repeated attempts to grant him a 30-day release. Yaeger was convicted of methamphetamine charges nearly five years ago.

"She expressed many times that she misses him, and he talks to her on the phone now and she cries. That's the only time I see her cry," Yaeger said.

In fact, Yaeger said the need to see her father is the only thing keeping Jayci going.

"I think she understands. She knows what the outcome is going to be. She's very scared, and I think she's holding on for her father," Yaeger said.

Yaeger said denying Jayci's last wish is cruel, and goes beyond punishing Jason for any crime he ever committed.

"She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes," she said.

Jayci's family said they aren't looking to get Jason out of prison, or shorten his sentence. They even asked for him to be put on electronic surveillance while was in Lincoln, and he offered to serve double his remaining time when he went back.

Yankton Federal Prison Camp officials said they had no comment on the situation.

Jayci's family just hopes they have a change of heart before it's too late.

*The prison camp sent out a news release Thursday afternoon detailing why Jason will not be released to see his daughter:

Officials at the Federal Prison Camp are sensitive to the request from inmate Yaeger and his family to allow him to visit his daughter. In response to inmate Yeager's request, he has been escorted by prison staff on three separate occasions to allow him to be with his daughter during this difficult time. Two of these trips have occurred within the past month. We have also assisted inmate Yaeger in maintaining telephonic contact with his family and daughter.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to release or suspend a court imposed sentence. Our agency's mission is to protect society by confining offenders in controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities, which are safe, humane and appropriately secure.

The Yaegers has been asked if there is a way for the public to help the family with the assistance of Jayci's funeral, which we know will be soon in the future. The family has set up a place where people can send donations:

Jayci Yaeger Benefit Fund
Care of Guardians Incorp.
1707 South 17th St. Suite 1D
Lincoln, Neb. 68502