Jurors began hearing a case Monday that will ask them to determine whether a toddleròòò½ÊÓƵ™s illness was the result of endangerment from her mother or the accidental injection of an HPV vaccine.

Attorneys for the are suing Victoria mother Anita Vasquez, 36, to terminate her parental rights for 22-month-old Aniya Blu Vasquez. They claim the child struggled to gain weight and was hospitalized for severe medical problems because of her motheròòò½ÊÓƵ™s actions.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI would like a hashtag movement (called) #KeepAniyaSafe,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Shelly Merritt, an attorney representing the state, to jurors. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what she deserves.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Accused mom's custody case proceeding to trial

But Vasquezòòò½ÊÓƵ™s attorney, Chris Branson, of Houston, told jurors the allegations against his client were òòò½ÊÓƵœnonsenseòòò½ÊÓƵ and based on òòò½ÊÓƵœan assumption.òòò½ÊÓƵ

He also asked jurors to hold state attorneys to the strict burden of òòò½ÊÓƵœclear and convincing evidenceòòò½ÊÓƵ that they are required to meet when the custody of a child is at stake. That burden, one lower than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt requirement used in criminal cases, is the highest available in civil court.

Aniya, who for now remains in the custody of her paternal grandparents, is represented by private attorney Esperanza Barron, of Victoria.

òòò½ÊÓƵœShe is the reason we are here,òòò½ÊÓƵ Barron said.

During the jury selection process Monday morning, Judge Jack Marr said the trial could take as long as two weeks.

Branson said he planned to call as many as 14 witnesses. Attorneys for the state and Barron declined to comment, and a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services spokeswoman did not answer phone calls Monday.

Anita Vasquez, who is a registered nurse, first took the stand after jurors were selected, describing Aniyaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s battle with persistent health problems in 2017.

Under Merrittòòò½ÊÓƵ™s questioning, Vasquez said dangerously low sodium levels and òòò½ÊÓƵœfailure to thriveòòò½ÊÓƵ caused her then-infant daughter to be hospitalized òòò½ÊÓƵ“ at least once in an intensive care unit.

Aniyaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s health problems disappeared after Vasquez was restricted from feeding her.

But Vasquez and her attorney pointed to another possibility for the childòòò½ÊÓƵ™s health problems.

Vasquez said those problems manifested after a Victoria doctor accidentally administered to Aniya an HPV vaccine meant for her 14-year-old son.

After the mistake, Aniya suffered not only physical symptoms such as fever and weakness but also psychological changes, such as lip smacking and staring spells, Vasquez said.

Doctors donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t know the cause of Aniyaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s illness and have no reason to accuse Vasquez of endangerment, she said.

Trial is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Jon Wilcox reports on courts for the Victoria Advocate. He may be reached jwilcox@vicad.com or 361-580-6515.

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Jon works in the Victoria Advocate newsroom, editing and working with a team of journalists. He also occasionally writes.