Boxers David Haye and Ricky Hatton have posted videos of support for the school boy, and a GoFundMe page has also raised over £15,000 so far in donations.
The mother of a 12-year-old boy at the centre of a life support treatment dispute says she is “not giving up” as doctors announced they will carry out a brain-stem test to determine if the schoolboy is brain dead.
At a private hearing on Thursday, a High Court judge ruled that the UK boy must undergo the tests, which have been opposed by his heartbroken parents. Archie’s mother, Holly Dance, 46, said she is “broken” by the situation but is praying for a miracle for her son.
Archie Battersbee, from Essex, suffered a “catastrophic” brain injury over a month ago in what the family have described as ‘a freak accident’ where he suffered an eight foot fall. He has been on a mechanical ventilation machine since then.
Last week, the case made headlines when the High Court launched a review to determine if the hospital should switch Archie’s life support off, even though his family want to give their son more time in the hope that his condition will improve. Hospital bosses wanted the court to order a test to establish whether he is brain dead. At a private hearing which took place in London on Thursday, the court ruled that Archie must undergo the test.
Archie is yet to regain consciousness and specialists say it is likely the schoolboy could be brain dead; regardless, the family say they owe it to Archie to give him more time to recover.
The Christian Legal Centre said the case “raises the significant moral, legal and medical question as to when a person is dead”, adding: “Archie’s parents do not accept that he is dead and are fighting for his life.”
Archie’s mother has insisted he is not ‘dead’ as has been suggested.
Ms Dance said: “He’s held my hand. I’ve got a video of him gripping my two fingers, and my fingers are bright red where he’s held them so tight. He’s in there and I just believe he needs a chance to heal, he needs time.”
She told Christian Concern:
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one person who has the right to take life, and that’s the person that gave you it, that’s God.”
Ahead of the hearing, Barts Health NHS Trust’s Fiona Paterson told the judge that the ‘priority’ is a decision on whether Archie should have the brain-stem test to determine if he is brain dead. The Trust, which runs the hospital where he is receiving care, said the test is endorsed nationally and would be done in a way that ensures any risk to Archie is ‘minimised’.
Ms Paterson wants the judge to make a ruling that the test is in Archie’s best interests. But Archie’s parents, represented by Bruno Quintaville, said they are ‘very concerned’ that their son has not received treatment for swelling on his brain.
Mr Quintaville said: “The concern is that he may be suffering every day more damage which could have been avoided.”
‘There’s not been enough time to see what he can do’
Archie’s mother, Ms Dance, said: “Archie had a severe brain injury only four weeks ago, there’s not been enough time to see what he can do.
“I’ve refused the brain stem testing to declare him brain dead. It’s too soon.”
Ms Dance says Archie is determined to cling onto life, and adds that the family would rather have ‘some of Archie than none of Archie’: “He has squeezed my fingers with a right grip. I think that’s his way of letting me know he’s still here and just needs more time.
“We don’t know the extent of the damage but I would rather have some of Archie than none of Archie just to wake up every morning and kiss his beautiful little face.
“I am fighting for as much time as possible to watch and wait.”
Archie’s brother and sister, Tom, 22, and Lauren, 20, come to visit him every day and try to get him to respond. The family talk to him and play his favourite song, along with voice notes recorded by his friends.
“Hope is what I am holding on to at the moment. Where there is life there is hope. Until it’s God’s way, I won’t accept that he should go. I know of miracles when people have come back from being brain dead.
“He may not be the same way as he was but if there’s a possibility that he could live a happy life after this, I want to give it to him.”
Taking a different tone, Barrister Fiona Paterson, representing Barts Health NHS Trust, said that “it is in [Archie’s] best interests” that his life support is withdrawn.
Ms Paterson told the court that Archie’s treatment team “consider it highly likely that he is, in fact, brain-stem dead.” They say that any movements Archie makes are reflexes.
She added:
“Even if Archie is not brain-stem dead, his treating team consider it highly unlikely that he will ever recover consciousness and consequently it is in his best interests that his medical ventilation be withdrawn.”
Providing regular updates on Archie’s condition, his sister Lauren has started an Instagram account, ‘Spread the Purple Wave’. The page, which has amassed almost 2,000 followers, says the goal is ‘to get him the medical treatment he needs’.
Posting to the account ahead of the hearing, Archie’s sister asked people to show their support for him.
“We are asking people if they are able to come and stand outside the court. Please feel free to come up and show a demonstration of just how much Archie means to you and everyone. We need the courts and hospital to know that Archie isn’t just another number and we will fight for him no matter what. We just need Archie’s Army to help us fight”.
In another post, a photo was posted showing purple ribbons tied to the gates of Archie’s school in a show of support for him and the family.
Archie’s mum has speculated that her son may have injured himself taking part in an ‘online challenge’.
The Christian Legal Centre has said it is supporting Archie’s family. Andrea Williams, chief executive, said: “We are standing with Archie and his family every step of the way. We want to give him every chance of life”.
Archie is a big UFC fan, and his mum has described him as a little boy full of “ambition” who “loves life.”
Boxers David Haye and Ricky Hatton have posted videos of support for the school boy, and a GoFundMe page has also raised over £15,000 so far in donations.