Family seeks justice after hospital mistakenly declares toddler dead

In February 2026, 18-month-old Vincent was declared dead by medical staff at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Gilbert, Arizona, after being found unresponsive in his family’s pool. Approximately four hours later, while the boy was in the morgue, his family noticed signs of life. His mother, Alexus Fiordilino, reported feeling air escaping from him, but hospital staff dismissed her observations, claiming it was merely agonal breathing, a physiological reflex often associated with the final stages of death.

Eight months after the incident, the now two-year-old Vincent survives but suffers from severe, permanent complications. He is unable to walk, speak, sit up, or swallow, and currently requires a feeding tube for nutrition. The family has criticized the hospital’s handling of the situation and the dismissal of their concerns during the hours before the error was corrected. Consequently, the family is now pursuing legal action against the hospital for the medical negligence that led to their son's condition.