A woman is speaking out months after her toddler was reportedly pronounced dead, only to later be found alive in the morgue.
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The 18-month-old toddler, later identified as Vincent Fiordilino, was taken to Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Gilbert, Arizona, on Feb. 8 after falling in a pool. Hospital staff reportedly performed life-saving measures on the toddler for about an hour before pronouncing him dead.
However, Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office staff later discovered little Vincent alive when they came to retrieve his body from the Hospital's morgue, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
Alexus Fiordilino, Vincent's mother, is breaking her silence after the horrific ordeal.
"I didn't even think stuff like that happened," she recently told Arizona's Family. "I thought I lost my baby and he was back."
"There isn't a day I don't think about that day," she added.
Alexus also told ABC affiliate KNXV about the harrowing moment she claims a doctor told her it would be best to stop life-saving measures following the toddler's near-drowning incident. She told the outlet that emergency room Dr. Aryan Toosi advised that the child's pH levels were "too high" to possibly remain alive. "I think it's best that I call the time for it," she claims Toosi told her.
KNXV also reports that Toosi allegedly used blood gas test results to make his decision. He allegedly opted not to perform other possible options, like performing warming measures or taking the toddler's core body temperature. Toosi reportedly called the child's time of death 6:20 pm that day. Now, the toddler's family is taking issue with when the test results became available to emergency room staff, per KNXV.
Mother Claims She Noticed Her Toddler Son Still Breathing After He Was Pronounced Dead
Alexus claimed that when she and her family said goodbye to Vincent, they thought they noticed the toddler breathing. However, when the hopeful family allegedly pointed it out to hospital staff, they claim they were told it was "normal."
Of course, Alexus was elated to later learn her toddler was still alive, telling KNXV she was "really grateful." However, she can't help but think of the possible horror her son endured.
"He was alone for five and a half hours," she told the outlet. "How do you do that to a baby?"
She believes the outcome would have been far different with more testing.
"We trusted the professionals that took an oath, made a promise, that they would do everything they could. And they looked at my son for whatever reason and decided he wasn't worth it," Alexus told Arizona's Family.
Toosi's attorney, Scott Holden, provided a statement on the incident to PEOPLE.
"Dr. Toosi's thoughts are with the young patient and family, and he wishes the child continued healing and recovery," Holden said in part. "Due to pending litigation and patient privacy laws, we cannot speak to the details of the care provided at this time."
