Archie Battersbee's life support is to be switched off today (August 6) and his mother Hollie Dance has spoken about the lasting effects of the months-long ordeal. The 12-year-old boy was found unconscious in April after suffering a catastrophic brain injury.
The legal avenues of Hollie and Archie's father Paul Battersbee have been exhausted after a number of challenges to extend the boy's life-sustaining treatment. It comes as their efforts to move him to hospice were rejected on Friday, the Mirror reported.
His mum has shared she will hear the machines connected to her son for "the rest of my life" ahead of the withdrawal of his treatment in hospital at 10am on Saturday.
Hollie spoke to the Mail Online over a few days this week and said she did "everything I could" and said her "unconditional love" of her son fuelled her efforts.
She told the outlet: "Some days are better than others. When one of my favourite nurses is in I find it easier to sleep, but when they're not, I wake up every 40 minutes checking the machines.
"Until a month ago his machines were constantly bleeping, which meant they were highlighting issues. They have calmed a lot in the last month." She claimed this meant they were showing "progress".
"They are still the backdrop to my world though. Whatever happens I think I will hear those machines for the rest of my life."
Archie's parents lost a bid to challenge a High Court ruling that refused to have him moved to a hospice before his life-sustaining treatment is withdrawn. Mrs Justice Theis previously concluded it was not in Archie's best interests to be moved.
The judges considering the application at the Court of Appeal agreed with her and said: "In all respects, Theis J's judgement deals comprehensively with each of the points raised on behalf of the parents.
"We have reached the clear conclusion that each of her decisions was right for the reasons she gave. It follows that the proposed appeal has no prospect of success and there is no other compelling reason for the Court of Appeal to hear an appeal."
Now, according to a campaign group, the life-sustaining treatment will be turned off at 10am Saturday as they admitted “all legal routes have been exhausted”.
Christian Concern announced the family had been told Friday night that the 12-year-old's life-sustaining treatment would end.
A spokesman with Christian Concern, which has been supporting Archie Battersbee's family, said: "All legal routes have been exhausted. The family are devastated and are spending precious time with Archie."
Almost two months ago in June, a court heard that parts of the youngster's brains were "dead and decaying".
Court documents also revealed that there are currently 17 separate interventions or other treatments keeping Archie's body functioning at a "very basic level".
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