By Dave Andrusko
via Facebook
If ever I was pleased to write this as a “developing story,” this qualifies.
As of 10:45. EST, little Alfie Evans is not only alive after having his ventilator removed at 9pm London time, another meeting has been scheduled with the trial judge Mr. Justice Hayden Tuesday afternoon (3:30 London time) in the Family Division of the High Court in Manchester.
Tom Evans, Alfie’s dad, said doctors have been left “gobsmacked” [utterly astonished]after Alfie’s life-support was withdrawn but he continued to live.
Although the family is cautioning on Facebook not to speculate, but Yahoo is reporting the following:
A spokeswoman for the Christian Legal Centre, which is assisting Alfie’s parents, said the judge would be asked to allow medical experts in Italy to examine Alfie.
She said medics at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool had stopped providing “ventilation support” to Alfie shortly after 9pm on Monday. But she said Alfie continued to breathe independently.
“Alfie has survived much longer than the doctors predicted, lending support to the request from Alfie’s parents for Alfie to be seen by medical experts in Italy,” she said.
“An air ambulance is now waiting outside Alder Hey Hospital ready to take Alfie to hospital in Italy.”
She said a barrister representing Alfie’s parents, who are both in their 20s and from Liverpool, would argue that it could not be in Alfie’s best interests to be “left to die in Alder Hey”.
The spokeswoman added: “He will argue that Alfie should be allowed to travel to Italy where doctors are ready to care for him.”
In comments made last night, Tom Evans, Alfie’s father, said the hospital was not providing food, water, or oxygen. However, in a separate subsequent post, Kate James, Alfie’s mother, wrote
Alfie has been allowed oxygen and water!! How amazing is he 💙💙💙💙no matter what happens he has already proved these doctors wrong 💙💙💙💙 how beautiful does he look❣
On Monday, Judge Hayden told doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital they could stop providing Alfie his life-support, having rejected a “last-ditch appeal” by Tom and Kate. Presumably the hearing is because Alfie has defied all predictions by”experts” that he would die within minutes once his ventilator was disconnected.