More than eight months after an Arizona toddler was declared dead only to be discovered alive in a hospital morgue hours later, his mother is speaking out.
As Charisma previously reported, 18-month-old Vincent Fiordilino nearly drowned in his family’s swimming pool on Feb. 8 before being rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. A physician pronounced him dead, but more than five hours later, medical examiner personnel arrived at the morgue and discovered Vincent was breathing.
Now, Vincent’s mother, Alexus Fiordilino, is describing the moment she learned the son she had already mourned was actually alive.
“My husband and I just screamed in relief,” Fiordilino stated in an interview. “We were praising the Lord. We were crying. To go from hearing he was gone and then finding out he isn’t gone, it’s an unexplainable feeling.”
But alongside that extraordinary moment of thanksgiving are troubling new questions.
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According to ABC15, medical records show Vincent was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. However, blood-gas test results that the family’s attorney says were cited as part of the justification for ending efforts to save Vincent apparently were not available until 6:38 p.m. — 18 minutes after he had been declared dead.
Fiordilino also recalled family members questioning whether Vincent was still breathing before he was taken to the morgue. Police records reviewed by NBC News similarly describe officers witnessing apparent gasps after his death was declared.
Meanwhile, the potential criminal charges against Vincent’s parents reported in July never materialized. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office determined the case did not meet its charging standard.
The family’s attorney, John Brewer, now plans to file a formal complaint against the doctor and hospital. Vincent is home, but Brewer stated that the toddler has severe brain injuries and faces significant health challenges.
What began as an extraordinary survival story has now become a fight for answers. Yet in the moment Vincent’s parents discovered death did not have the final word, their response was unmistakable: they praised the Lord.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
