TOT'S BATTLE
Who are Alfie Evans parents Kate James and Tom Evans, when did they have another baby and when did Alfie die?
ALFIE Evans was at the centre of a life and death court battle between his parents, health officials and the British justice system.
The tot's life support was switched off in April after his family lost the final stage of appeal. Here's what you need to know.
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When did Alfie Evans die and how old was he?
Alfie Evans was living in a coma for well over a year after being struck down with a mystery illness.
Born on May 9, 2016, he missed many developmental milestones in his first seven months.
He started making "jerking, seizure-like movements" and was taken to the doctors - but his parents were told he was "lazy and a late developer", the family claim.
Alfie caught a chest infection that caused seizures and was placed on life support at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool in December 2016.
Aged 23 months, his life support was turned off on April 23, 2018, after a last-ditch bid by his parents was rejected. He died on April 28.
Parents Tom Evans and Kate James broke the news to their Alfie's Army supporters on Facebook, saying: "Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2.30 am. We are heartbroken."
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Who are Alfie's parents and when did they have another baby?
Alfie Evans' parents are Tom Evans and Kate James, both in their 20s and from Liverpool.
The couple consistently placed pressure on the justice system in a bid to keep Aflie alive.
Tom Evans was particularly vocal in speaking out in public, slamming every one of the court rulings.
The couple appear to be religious, with Tom citing the ten commandments in a court case, reminding the court "thou shalt not kill".
Writing after judges at the European Court of Rights rejected the case, Tom said he and his partner were "in bits, distraught, in pain", and the decision meant their son was "about to be murdered".
Tom and Kate suffered a series of blows in their legal battles to keep Alfie alive.
They had taken their battle to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal agreed with Alder Hey that Alfie "could not be saved" and that it would be "unkind" and "futile" to continue treatment, but their bid was dismissed.
Four months after Alfie died, the couple welcomed the birth of their second son, believed to be named Thomas.
A source close to the family told The Sun: “Kate and Tom have been to hell and back over the past 12 months as they battled in vain to keep Alfie alive.
“They have been left devastated by Alfie’s passing, but also vowed that they would carry on living for their son and are determined his death won’t break them.
“Kate knew she was pregnant in Alfie’s final few weeks and wanted to keep it quiet so she could give her all to Alfie.
“She and Tom are delighted with their new arrival. He’s doing a great job of giving them something to focus on while they grieve.
“It’s obviously tinged with sadness though as they know Alfie would have been a fantastic big brother, if only he’d managed to survive.”
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What has Alfie's dad said one year on from his death?
Tom Evans posted a heartbreaking tribute to his "hero" son on the one-year anniversary of the toddler's death.
He said: "1 year today you took your last breath at our side, one year today since I gave you your last breaths, one year ago today since we listens to Kingston town for the last time,one year ago today me and your mummy lost a huge part of us!
"You Alfie, you was our rock,our future our life. You could still be here!
"You should still be here! We miss you everyday and talk about you to your little brother!
"We miss your touch, your kisses, your cuddles, everything about you we miss and always will!
"You was a very special boy Alfie and always will be. MUMMY AND DADDY'S HERO ALWAYS. We love you infinity."
What do we know about his illness?
Alfie was born with a degenerative neurological condition which doctors had not definitively diagnosed.
Some experts believed he might have had a mitochondrial condition - the same as Charlie Gard.
After he was admitted to Alder Hey, his parents were told he wasn't going to make it - but he fought back to beat the infection and began breathing on his own.
But he caught another chest infection and had to go back on a ventilator when he began having more chronic seizures.
Alfie was described as being in a semi-vegetative state and doctors at Alder Hey said it was in his best interest to stop mechanical ventilation.
What is mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome?
Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDS) refers to a group of disorders that cause affected tissues to suffer from a significant drop in mitochondrial DNA.
The DNA is found in the mitochondria of cells - an organelle found in most cells in which respiration and energy production occur.
This means, as in Charlie's case, that sufferers do not get energy to their muscles, kidneys and brain.
MDS causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
The condition is rare and Charlie is said to be one of only 16 people to have ever had the condition.
MDS is almost always fatal in babies and young children, although some sufferers have made it into their teenage years.
There is currently no cure but some treatments have shown a reduction in symptoms.
One of these is Nucleoside bypass therapy.
How brave Alfie battled his illness
9 May 2016 - Alfie is born in Liverpool to parents Tom Evans and Kate James.
1 December 2016 - Alfie is taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after suffering seizures. He will spend the next 12 months there.
11 December 2017 - The hospital and family disagree over Alfie's treatment, with his parents saying that the hospital applied to the High Court to remove parental rights and withdraw ventilation.
19 December 2017 - The High Court case begins with Mr Justice Hayden saying he will make a decision on what is best for Alfie.
1 February 2018 - A hearing begins at the High Court in Liverpool in which lawyers acting for the hospital claim further treatment for Alfie is unkind and inhumane.
2 February 2018 - One of Alfie's doctors tells the judge there is "no hope" for the youngster, who is in a semi-vegetative state from a degenerative neurological condition doctors have not been able to definitively diagnose.
20 February 2018 - Mr Justice Hayden rules in favour of the hospital and accepts medical evidence that further treatment would be futile.
6 March 2018 - Three Court of Appeal judges uphold the decision of Mr Justice Hayden.
20 March 2018 - Supreme Court justices refuse the couple permission to mount another appeal.
28 March 2018 - The European Court of Human Rights also rejects a request from the family to intervene.
16 April 2018 - Alfie's parents argue he is being wrongly "detained" at Alder Hey and make a habeas corpus application. Judges at the Court of Appeal in London rule against them.
18 April 2018 - Mr Evans flies to Rome and meets with Pope Francis.
20 April 2018 - The Supreme Court rules against Alfie's parents for a second time.
23 April 2018 - The ECHR rejects a last-ditch appeal. Supporters storm the hospital. Alfie is granted Italian citizenship. His life support is turned off at 9.17pm.
24 April 2018 - Alfie is still breathing on his own and has had oxygen and water, his father tells supporters.
25 April 2018 - Alfie's parents lose their appeal to take the tot to Italy for further treatment.
26 April 2018 - Supporters of Alfie hold a candlelit vigil at the Vatican as his father calls for demonstrations outside the hospital to end.
28 April 2018 - Alfie dies five days after doctors turned off his ventilator.
They had already lost a challenge at the Court of Appeal and failed to have the decision overturned at the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.
Following one appeal, Lord Justice Davis, ruled that Alfie's life support must be turned off and told lawyers that doctors had agreed that there was "no hope".
He said: "We cannot have a kind of legal Groundhog Day where you come back again and again and again on the same point."
Alfie's life support was eventually turned off at 9.17pm on the evening of Monday, April 23.
However, the following morning his dad said that the little boy was still battling on and breathing unassisted hours later.
On the morning of Wednesday April 25, Tom said the tot was "still fighting", although the Court of Appeal was told he was "struggling" later in the day.
In the evening of April 25, Alder Hey Hospital was on lockdown amid rumours of a planned raid by protesters supporting the ill toddler.
He was barred from going to Italy for treatment after another failed legal challenge as the Appeal Court in London rejected his family's plea to have Alfie airlifted from the Liverpool clinic.
Merseyside Police warned supporters of Alfie's family that their social media posts were being monitored over reports that Alder Hey doctors were being hit with abuse.
Tom Evans stated that he would like to build a relationship with Alder Hey, and that the global pressure had stopped his family from "liv[ing] our lives as we would like".
"We are very grateful and we appreciate all the support we have received from around the world, including from our Italian and Polish supporters, who have dedicated their time and support to our incredible fight.
"We would now ask you to return back to your everyday lives and allow myself, Kate and Alder Hey to form a relationship, build a bridge and walk across it."
LATEST ON ALFIE EVANS
What did the Pope have to say?
The high-profile case even caught the attention of the Pope, who pledged his support to keep Alfie alive.
The Holy Father tweeted: “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.
"I am praying for Alfie, for his family and for all who are involved.”
On April 18, Alfie's dad Tom visited Pope Francis and begged him to "save our son".
The pontiff had used an address to pray for the toddler, saying the situation was "very painful and complex".
Following Alfie's passing, Pope Francis said: "I am deeply moved by the death of little Alfie. Today I pray especially for his parents, as God the Father receives him in his tender embrace."
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