Today at 2:30 am UK local time, little Alfie Evans, the 23-month-old toddler who was removed from life support by court order on April 23rd, passed away after continuing to breathe on his own for four days. His parents shared the heartbreaking announcement on Facebook, his father Thomas Evans writing, “My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30… absolutely heartbroken… I LOVE YOU MY GUY….”
Alfie’s mother, Kate, also posted on her Facebook account, announcing the sad news, writing, “Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2:30 am. We are heart broken. Thank you everyone for all your support.”
Alder Hey Hospital had originally withheld oxygen as well as food and water from Alfie, with some doctors expecting him to pass away within minutes. But little Alfie was a fighter, and he continued to breathe on his own for so long that medical personnel were said to be “gobsmacked.”
As previously reported by Live Action News, after 19 hours, the hospital reportedly granted Alfie oxygen and water, and after 28 hours, he was at last given food. At the time, Alfie’s father stated, “It’s disgusting how he’s being treated,” adding, “In reality he could be in Italy right now. We all know the military air force are ready to take him and a team of doctors are there. We’ve also got a German air ambulance team, who attempted to take him in the first place, ready….” Italy had granted Alfie citizenship and planned to care for him at Bambino Gesù Hospital.
Tragically, these efforts were to no avail, as the UK courts denied every single appeal made on behalf of Alfie’s life, regardless of the fact that there would have been no cost to the NHS for Alfie to be taken out of the country for care.
Alfie’s father then stated that he intended to sue three medical personnel whom he believed to be responsible for attempting to bring about Alfie’s death. Alfie’s parents wanted to take him home, but according to the UK Telegraph, an Alder Hey doctor stated that a “sea change” in Alfie’s parents’ attitude toward the hospital was necessary for this to happen.
Then, on April 26th, Tom Evans seemed to do an about-face, reading a note to the press that raised suspicion among some that he and Alfie’s mother had been given no other choice but to do so:
Statement just issued by parents of Alfie Evans, now asking for privacy and pledging to ‘form a relationship’ with @AlderHey #BBCNews pic.twitter.com/xEC5WSRopi
— Judith Moritz (@JudithMoritz) April 26, 2018
Because of Alfie’s parents’ fight for their son, British MP Steven Woolfe has proposed a law restoring the right of parents to make decisions about their children’s medical care. “Parents’ rights should neither be ignored nor dismissed as irrelevant by hospitals and courts, who believe they know best and have the power, money and resources to overwhelm families who simply want to save their child,” Woolfe said.
We extend our sympathies and prayers to Alfie’s family at this extremely difficult time.
