Baby Indi Gregory who was at the centre of a legal argument over her treatment has died after having her breathing tube removed.
Eight month old Indi, who was suffering from an incurable genetic mitochondrial condition, had been involved in several High Court and Court of Appeal cases.
Judges ruled she should die but last week Italy stepped in and made her an Italian citizen in a last minute legal bid to bring her to a Rome hospital for treatment.
But on Friday that attempt failed, and her parents Dean Gregory and Claire Stanforth were told that her breathing tube would be removed.
She was moved from the Queen Medical Centre in Nottingham to a hospice where she died in the early hours of Monday morning.
Her heartbroken father Dean said: ‘Indi’s life ended at 01.45am. My wife Clare and I are angry, heartbroken and ashamed.
‘The NHS and the courts have not only taken away her chance to live a longer life, but they also took away her dignity to die in the family home where she belonged.
Baby Indi Gregory who was at the centre of a legal argument over her treatment has died after having her breathing tube removed
Indi pictured at her christening alongside her parents Claire Staniforth and Dean Gregory
Baby Indi Gregory with her mother Claire Staniford. The baby has now died after her life support was switched off
‘They managed to take Indi’s body and dignity, but they will never be able to take her soul.
‘I knew she was special from the day she was born, they tried to get rid of her without anyone knowing but Clare and I made sure she would be remembered forever.’
The heartbroken parents failed to persuade High Court and Court of Appeal judges in London and judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, to keep her on life-support machines and have her transferred to a Vatican’s children’s hospital in Rome.
High Court judge Mr Justice Peel had ruled limiting treatment would be lawful, and doing so would be in Indi’s best interests.
Indi, who was born on February 24, suffered from a rare, incurable and degenerative mitochondrial disease which meant that her cells did not produce enough energy.
Doctors at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre said Indi suffered from significant pain and distress and there was no point in further treatment.
Upon hearing that doctors had moved to withdraw Indi’s life support, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sensationally granted the girl Italian citizenship on Monday last week, with Rome’s Bambino Gesu children’s hospital offering to administer treatment.
But her anguished parents lost the fight in their battle against medics when a High Court judge ruled on Wednesday Indi’s life support must be switched off in hospital. She was moved to a hospice on Saturday where she later died in the early hours of this morning.
As news spread of baby Indi’s death, Meloni tweeted today: ‘We did everything we could, everything possible. Unfortunately it was not enough. Have a safe trip little Indi.’
Italy’s deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said this morning: ‘Little Indi Gregory is no longer with us, news we never wanted to read. The Italian government made the most of her, offering to treat her in our country, unfortunately without success. A touching prayer for you and a sincere hug to her parents.’
Mr Justice Peel had ruled a move to Italy would not be in Indi’s best interests.
Eight month old Indi (pictured with her father Dean), who was suffering from an incurable genetic mitochondrial condition, had been involved in several High Court and Court of Appeal cases
Baby Indi Gregory who was at the centre of a legal argument over her treatment has died after having her breathing tube removed
Baby Indi Gregory who was at the centre of a legal argument over her treatment has died after having her breathing tube removed
In a last ditch attempt to prolong her life, Indi’s parents lodged an appeal against the judge’s decision and thanked Meloni and the Italian hospital for their support.
‘We think it is in Indi’s best interest to come to Italy to receive treatment that could help her to breathe by opening a valve through the implantation of a stent,’ Dean Gregory told Italian media last week. ‘Then we can focus on her mitochondrial disease.
‘We know that Indi is a fighter, she wants to live, and she doesn’t deserve to die. Thank you’.
He added at the time: ‘Mine and Claire’s heart’s goes out to the Italian president and the Italian government, and the Italian people.
‘We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we see you as Indi’s guardian angels. The compassion and love you have shown to try and help our daughter get the care she needs and the devotion you have for Indi makes us so happy.
‘But there is still an urgency to appeal to the British government to allow Indi to come to Italy before it is too late.
‘As a father I have never asked or begged for anything in my life, but I am now begging the British government to please help prevent our daughter’s life from being taken away.’
Meloni meanwhile said last week she would do everything possible to defend Indi’s life and ‘to defend the right of her mum and dad to do everything they can for her’.
Indi’s parents had lost legal fights in London to continue treatment for their baby. The eight month old baby has now died after her life support was withdrawn
Baby Indi Gregory who was at the centre of a legal argument over her treatment has died after having her breathing tube removed
Indi suffered from a rare, incurable and degenerative mitochondrial disease which meant that her cells did not produce enough energy
Indi’s parents argued that they should be able to take their daughter home to administer palliative care – or take her to Italy for further treatment.
But judges at the Court of Appeal in London backed the High Court’s decision, arguing that a move to Italy would not be in the best interests of Indi.
On Saturday, Pope Francis released a statement backing the family, saying he was praying for Indi and all children suffering from war and diseases.
He said: ‘Pope Francis embraces the family of little Indi Gregory, her father and mother, prays for them and for her, and turns his thoughts to all the children around the world in these same hours who are living in pain or risking their lives because of disease and war.’
Indi was moved from a hospital in Nottingham to a hospice on Saturday where she was taken off life support and died in the early hours of Monday morning.