THE P RTAL
May 2018 Page 19
On Monday , Alfie ’ s father Thomas Evans posted a video on Facebook saying that when the hospital staff removed Alfie ’ s ventilator at 9:17 p . m ., he was able to breathe on his own . The toddler lived for more than four days without the machine . “ Alfie ’ s sustained his life since 17 minutes past nine ,” Thomas Evans said . “ He ’ s needing oxygen but the hospital won ’ t give him any .”
In the video , he said his son ’ s fingers were beginning to turn blue and Alfie was losing colour . However , after the parents gave the child mouth-to-mouth resuscitation , the child began to breathe on his own . Later Alfie was given oxygen . Alfie ’ s aunt , Sarah Evans posted a message on the “ Alfie ’ s Army Official ” Facebook page soon before he died asking supporters for prayers . “ Our warrior is needing prayers and 100 deep breaths sending to Alfie ,” she wrote . “ Inhale and exhale then do another 100 please . Please pray for our warrior .”
Alfie would have turned two on May 9th . A video taken of him on the day of his court-ordered death showed the toddler looking around the room , responsive and alert .
It is a tragic ending to a sad story that began shortly after Alfie was born to his then-teenage parents . In July 2016 , he was referred to hospital for a “ divergent squint ” ( one eye turning outwards ). By the time he was four months old , his mother noticed other troubling signs . Alfie ’ s smile had become less frequent , he was sleeping too much , and he showed little interest in interactions and playing with toys . By six months , he showed signs of significant developmental delay . An MRI showed that his brain was not developing properly .
Alfie was admitted to Alder Hey hospital ’ s emergency department on December 14 , 2016 after an episode of coughing , high temperature and , according to a subsequent court decision , “ rhythmic jerking of all four limbs and his jaw .” The boy was diagnosed with acute viral bronchiolitis and a possible prolonged febrile convulsion . He began to jerk again , and these seizures worsened the next day . Alfie was then treated with Midazolam and then , on the 16th , with Vigabatin instead . A doctor described him as “ comatose ” from this time forward . On December 19 , it was discovered that Alfie had a slow breathing rate and apnea ( pauses in breathing ). Alfie went into cardiac arrest and was given an oxygen mask .
He was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit , and was later diagnosed with pneumonia . In January 2017 , Alfie ’ s parents were warned he might die . Nevertheless , the boy recovered from pneumonia , albeit without any improvement to the health of his
brain . Doctors from Alder Hey and additional doctors consulted by Alfie ’ s parents agreed that the child had a fatal neurodegenerative disorder . It remained undiagnosed to the end .
When Alfie ’ s condition declined , the hospital began to pressure his parents to remove him from life support .
They refused to give permission . Undeterred , the hospital went to court to argue that ending treatment was in the child ’ s best interests . On February 20 , 2018 , Mr Justice Heydon of the UK Supreme Court ruled that it was in Alfie ’ s “ best interests ” to discontinue treatment , to be removed from his life support , and to receive palliative care at Alder Hey .
Alfie ’ s parents appealed the decision before the UK Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court before pleading their case before the European Court of Human Rights this March . The ECHR ruled that their appeal to take their son elsewhere in the European Union was “ inadmissible ” and that the child ’ s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights were not being violated . The court also refused to block Heydon ’ s decision that Alfie ’ s doctors could remove the boy ’ s life support .
Alder Hey then applied to the High Court to set a date for his treatment to end . Alfie ’ s parents responded with more appeals , all of which were denied .
Pope Francis repeatedly spoke out in support of Alfie ’ s parents , and an Italian priest , Fr . Gabriele Brusco , offered spiritual help to the Evans family until he was recalled to London . On Friday , April 20 , the UK High Court denied Alfie ’ s parents ’ final appeal that they be allowed to continue caring for their son and ordered Alder Hey remove his life support on April 23 .
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I GIVE to the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham , 24 Golden Square , London W1F 9JR , the sum of ______ pounds (£ ) and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executor . or
I GIVE the residue of my estate to the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham , 24 Golden Square , London W1F 9JR , and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executor .