Mother of toddler found alive in morgue after being declared dead speaks out about harrowing incident
Despite being pronounced dead five hours earlier, 18-month-old Vincent Fiordilino was found alive by medical staff in a hospital morgue, leading his mother to question: ‘How do you do that to a baby?’
In February, Alexus Fiordilino and her husband Angelo were forced to perform life-saving measures on their son after they found him face down in the family swimming pool.
According to a GoFundMe, the child was underwater for approximately five minutes.
The pair, who live in Gilbert, Arizona, rushed their child to Mercy Gilbert Medical Centre, where emergency room doctor Aryan Toosi soon pronounced him dead.
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“When I got to the hospital, I thought, ‘okay’, these people are going to help me,” the mother recalled in a recent interview with ABC 15.
However, she was forced to say goodbye to her son, remarking: “Do you know how hard that is?”
She claimed Dr Toosi said: “Yeah, so his pH levels are too high. They’re too acidic. So even if we are to bring him back, it wouldn’t be a good form of life. He’d be suffering. So I think it’s best that I call the time for it.”
He allegedly requested that his staff stop CPR, adding: “As long as there are no objections, I’d like to call time of death.”
Despite the medical expert declaring the toddler dead, Fiordilino claimed her mother-in-law thought she heard him breathing.
The family were told by staff that the sound Vincent was making was gonal breathing, involuntary gasps that can occur when the brain is severely deprived of oxygen, as reported by Metro.
Hours after the schoolboy was declared dead, Vincent was found alive in the hospital morgue by medical examiner staff set to transport his body.
“He was alone. He was alone for five-and-a-half hours. How do you do that to a baby?,” Fiordilino questioned.
Fiordilino’s son was later transferred by ambulance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital; an MRI scan confirmed he had extensive brain damage requiring lifelong care.
An investigation has since been opened, with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office reviewing.
The probe comes amid questions being raised about the timing of a blood gas test used to support the doctor’s decision.
John Brewer, the Fiordilino’s lawyer, said that Dr Toosi cited Vincent’s blood gas results when explaining his decision to declare the toddler dead.
Despite the time of his death being logged at 6.20, the test results were apparently not received until 6.38pm, 18 minutes later.
Documents also suggest the doctor did not take Vincent’s core body temperature or carry out warming measures, partly because of the blood gas test, as per the publication.
Dignity Health, which operates the hospital, described the situation as ‘heartbreaking’ in a statement to ABC 15.
“Out of respect for the patient’s privacy, we cannot share any information and we are unable to comment on those involved in patient care,’ a spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Scott Holden, a lawyer for Dr Toosi, said that his client’s thoughts were with Vincent and his family
”His commitment to delivering high-quality care has always been rooted in a desire to provide healing, safety and comfort to his community,’ the lawyer said.
“Due to pending litigation and patient privacy laws, we cannot speak to the details of the care provided at this time.”
Sergeant Jordan Truckenbrod, of the Gilbert Police Department, added that the investigation had not established probable cause for criminal conduct.
Tyla has contacted Dignity Health and the Gilbert Police for comment.
Ella Scott