Alfie Evans in pictures: Heartbreaking timeline of Alfie's health battle
Alfie Evans latest pictures from the case Tue, April 24, 2018 Doctors have been left "gobsmacked" after Alfie's life-support was withdrawn but he continued to live. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 27 Police stand guard outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital on April 24, 2018 in Liverpool
The 23-month-old baby’s parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, have arrived in Manchester earlier today to plea with the high court to allow Alfie travel to Italy. The poorly toddler was granted Italian citizenship in a bid to transfer him to Rome's Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital, where his parents are hopeful he stands a chance of survival. Alfie has been bedridden at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with a rare and undiagnosed degenerative neurological disorder since 2016. However on Monday night doctors have pulled the plug on Alfie’s life support system, arguing further treatment was “inhumane” and the boy deserved a dignified death – against his parents’ wishes. Alfie’s parents are now hoping for one last glimmer of hope at the Family Divisions of the High Court in Manchester. Here is how the events unfolded in Alfie’s brave battle against illness and time.
May 9 2016: Little Alfie Evans is born in Liverpool to his proud parents, Tom and Kate. December 14 2016: Soon after being born, the toddler begins to suffer intense seizures and is admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where he remains for the next 12 months. December 11 2017: Hospital staff and Alfie’s parents clash over the baby’s treatment, after Alfie’s parents reveal hospital bosses approached the High Court to remove parental rights and withdraw Alfie’s ventilation. December 19 2017: Mr Justice Hayden oversees the proceedings in Alfie’s public case at the Family Division of the High Court in London. Alder Hey presents the case keeping the toddler on life support would not be in his best interest and refuted the suggestion to fly Alfie out to Italy for additional treatment.
February 20 2017: After a series of intense hearings, Mr Justice Fayden rules in favour of Alder Hey. The court was told prior to the decision that continuing to treat Alfie was both unkind and inhumane. One of the baby’s doctors said there was “no hope” for his condition. Michael Mylonas QC, representing the hospital, argued Alfie has undergone “catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue” and could no longer breath without aid. March 6 2018: Court of Appeal judges decide to uphold Mr Justice Hayden’s decision in favour of the children’s hospital. Mrs Justice King stresses all medical evidence points towards the fact the baby is comatose and "to all intents and purposes unaware of his surroundings”. Two days later Alfie’s parents ask for the case to be escalated to the Supreme Court.
AFP/GETTY•PA Alfie Evans: The toddler's parents are fighting against time to keep the baby alive
PA Alfie Evan's Tom Evans and Kate James want to take their son to Italy
March 28 2018: Alfie’s case is rejected by the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds of not seeing any human rights violations. April 4 2018: Pope Francis publicly voices his support for Alfie’s parents.
It's come to a point when his mum's actually asleep next to him so she can go to sleep, she feels comfortable with him Tom Evans, Alfie's father
He tweets: “It is my sincere hope that everything necessary may be done in order to continue compassionately accompanying little Alfie Evans, and that the deep suffering of his parents may be heard." April 16 2018: Alfie’s parents launch a habeas corpus application against Alder Hey, claiming their son was being unjustly detained at the hospital. Court of Appeal judges who examined the application rule against it, once again in favour of Mr Justice Hayden. April 18 2018: Mr Evans flies to Rome where he personally meets Pope Francis, asking him to provide asylum to his terminally ill son. April 20 2018: The Supreme Court rules against Alfie’s parents for the second time.
AFP/GETTY Alfie Evans: Hundreds have gathered in support of the poorly toddler
Alfie Evans in pictures: Heartbreaking photos of Alfie in hospital Tue, April 24, 2018 Alfie has a degenerative neurological condition which has not been definitively diagnosed after being born in a "semi-vegetative" state. Play slideshow Facebook 1 of 12 Alfie Evans pictured in hospital with his mother