Archie Battersbee's mother Hollie Dance says there are two countries that have offered to treat her son following his parents' last-minute bid to the European Court of Human Rights this morning. Archie's treatment had been due to be withdrawn from 11am today after a series of court appeals failed.
However, after Ms Dance and Archie's dad, Paul, met a 9am deadline to submit an application to the European Court, the hospital treating him said there would be "no changes to Archie's care until the outstanding legal issues are resolved". Ms Dance said they were now waiting for the European Court of Human Rights to get back to them.
Speaking outside the hospital, she said: "I am hoping that they will step in and give Archie a right to live. I think that he deserves that."
She said two countries have come forward to offer her son treatment, adding: "If this country can't treat him or they're not willing to treat him, where is the harm in allowing him to go to another country?"
Ms Dance said a request has been made for Archie to go to a hospice in a "worst case scenario", adding the hospital has "brutally" said no. "The courts are going on and really focusing in on the word 'dignity'. What is dignified in dying in a busy hospital room full of noise with the door open, people coming in and out continuously, when Archie could be in a very peaceful garden with squirrels and wildlife running around to have his life support withdrawn there," she said.
But she said that is "worst case scenario", reiterating there "other countries" that "want to take Archie and they want to treat him".
Ms Dance said she was "running on empty", adding: "Yesterday was a very down day for me. People that know me know I won't stay down for long, especially when it comes to fighting for my son's life. I promised Arch, same with his dad, that we will fight 'til the bitter end, and that's exactly what we're going to do. We're going to fight for the right for my son to live."
Ms Dance told reporters: "It really is a case of me and Archie, and obviously Archie's family, up against the whole system."
Asked about what other countries are offering, she said they are "really supportive", they can offer treatment to Archie, and they have "high success rates". Ms Dance added: "There are other countries that want to treat him and I think that he should be allowed to go."
She said the offers of help have come from Tokyo in Japan and Italy.
Ms Dance said: "I'm not going to lie, I am broken, and at some point I am going to need serious therapy, but I haven't got time to think about me at the minute. This is a serious fight for my son's life and I'm up against the biggest system and a trust that I haven't got time to break down at the moment."
Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer for Barts Health NHS Trust, said: "Our deepest sympathies remain with Archie's family and we aim to provide the best possible support to everyone at this difficult time. As directed by the courts, we will work with the family to prepare for the withdrawal of treatment, but we will make no changes to Archie's care until the outstanding legal issues are resolved."
