Arizona Mother Recounts Ordeal of Toddler Found Breathing in Morgue

An Arizona mother has shared the harrowing experience of her toddler son being found breathing in a hospital morgue after he had been declared dead. Alexus Fiordilino recounted the events of February 8, describing it as the worst day of her life, when her 18-month-old son, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was found face down in the family's pool in Gilbert, Arizona.

Alexus and her husband, Angelo, performed life-saving measures on Vincent before he was transported to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. According to Alexus, the toddler was pronounced dead approximately one hour after arriving at the hospital. She stated that the emergency room doctor on call, Dr. Aryan Toosi, informed her that Vincent's pH levels were too acidic, suggesting that even if revived, he would suffer. The doctor then pronounced the time of death at 6:20 p.m.

However, more than five hours after Vincent was pronounced dead, a medical examiner's transport team discovered the child was still breathing in the hospital morgue. The Fiordilino family is now raising questions about the medical decisions made that day, particularly regarding the timing of the pronouncement of death and the handling of the child's condition.

During the initial treatment, Alexus recalls feeling her son was cold. When her mother-in-law remarked that Vincent sounded like he was breathing, hospital staff reportedly dismissed it as agonal breathing, a reflex response. A police report obtained by the Daily Mail indicates that an officer also heard a nurse state, "I have a pulse," and observed hospital staff attempting to revive Vincent. When the officer informed Dr. Toosi, he reportedly responded by asserting his medical authority and instructing staff to stop resuscitation efforts.

Further discrepancies arose regarding Vincent's blood gas test results. Records indicate Dr. Toosi cited these results as a reason for not taking the child's core body temperature or initiating warming measures. However, medical records suggest the results were received at 6:38 p.m., 18 minutes after Vincent had been pronounced dead. An officer at the scene also reported observing Vincent's chest rising and falling, but this was attributed by staff to gas leaving the body. Later, an officer in the morgue reportedly observed what appeared to be another gasp from the child.

Following the discovery that Vincent was alive, he was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital. An MRI confirmed he had suffered extensive brain damage and will require lifelong care. Alexus Fiordilino expressed her anguish that her son was left alone in the morgue for over five hours.

The family's attorney, John Brewer, stated that the hospital and doctors must rectify the situation, citing warning signs and missteps that occurred before Vincent was found alive.

A spokesperson for Dignity Health acknowledged the situation as heartbreaking and stated that patient safety and exceptional care are their highest priorities, while respecting patient privacy and declining to comment on specific patient care details.

Dr. Toosi's attorney, Scott Holden, expressed that the doctor's thoughts are with the patient and family, wishing the child continued healing. He stated that the doctor's commitment to high-quality care is rooted in a desire to provide healing, safety, and comfort, and that pending litigation and patient privacy laws prevent discussion of care details.

Sgt. Jordan Truckenbrod of the Gilbert Police Department stated that their investigation did not establish probable cause for criminal conduct by medical personnel, and no charges were filed. The case is being referred to the Attorney General's Office for review.