GILBERT, AZ. (THECOUNT) — Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, the Arizona toddler who was mistakenly pronounced dead after a near-drowning and later found breathing in a hospital morgue, is alive and home with his family nearly nine months after the ordeal. The 18-month-old survived but has suffered a severe brain injury, according to his mother and the family’s attorney.
Vincent’s mother, Alexus Fiordilino, 30, said she is “infuriated” after learning more about the medical care her son received at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Gilbert, in Maricopa County’s Phoenix metropolitan area.
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“Infuriated. I feel like I was grossly misled,” Fiordilino told The Arizona Republic in an interview published Oct. 23.
The incident began Feb. 8, when Fiordilino found Vincent floating face down in the family’s backyard swimming pool during a Super Bowl party. Her husband, Angelo Fiordilino, began CPR as relatives called 911. First responders transported the toddler to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where hospital staff continued efforts to revive him.
Vincent arrived at the emergency department at approximately 6:04 p.m. An emergency physician, Dr. Aryan Toosi, pronounced him dead at 6:20 p.m. after discussing the situation with his parents.
Fiordilino said Toosi told the family Vincent’s blood pH levels were too abnormal for him to survive and that continuing resuscitation would not lead to a meaningful recovery. She and her husband agreed to stop treatment, believing the medical team had exhausted its options.
But the family’s attorney, John Brewer, said medical records raise questions about the timing of the blood-test results. According to records reviewed by ABC15 and Arizona’s Family, staff had not received the relevant blood-gas results when the doctor pronounced Vincent dead. The results reportedly became available at 6:38 p.m., 18 minutes after the declaration.
Fiordilino also recalled relatives questioning whether Vincent was still breathing when they hugged him goodbye. She said hospital staff attributed the sounds to agonal breathing, involuntary gasps that can occur near death. Police records also documented apparent gasps after the toddler was pronounced dead.
Vincent was moved to a hospital cold room while awaiting transfer to the medical examiner. More than five hours after he was declared dead, a medical examiner’s transporter arrived and discovered the toddler was still breathing. His family was notified, and he was taken to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for further treatment.
“My husband and I just screamed in relief,” Fiordilino told NBC News. “We were praising the Lord. We were crying. To go from hearing he was gone and then finding out he isn’t gone, it’s an unexplainable feeling.”
That discovery did not mean Vincent escaped serious harm. He is now home with his family, but Brewer has described him as severely brain-injured and said he faces significant health challenges that will require lifelong care. Fiordilino has said her son is improving, although his recovery remains complicated.
The family is considering legal action against Toosi and Dignity Health, which operates Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. Brewer said the family planned to file a complaint concerning the care Vincent received. Toosi’s attorney, Scott Holden, said the doctor’s thoughts were with Vincent and his family and that he wished the child continued healing and recovery. Holden declined to discuss the details of the care, citing pending litigation and patient privacy laws.
Dignity Health described the incident as “heartbreaking” and said patient safety and exceptional care were its highest priorities, while declining to discuss specific patient-care details.
The case has also drawn scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the near-drowning. Gilbert police recommended child abuse charges against Vincent’s parents, who acknowledged using marijuana earlier that day, according to police records. In July, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to charge them, citing the evidence and the standard required to secure a conviction.
Gilbert police also referred information about the hospital incident to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. As of the latest reports, the office had not decided whether to accept the matter for review. Police said their investigation did not establish probable cause for criminal conduct involving medical personnel.
A GoFundMe was established to help family members with expenses.
Via GoFundMe:
On February 8, 2026 during what should have been a joyful Super Bowl Sunday, the Fiordilino family experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. Their 18‑month‑old baby boy, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, suffered a tragic accident and fell into the family pool. He was underwater for approximately five minutes before first aid was administered while waiting for first responders. Vincent was rushed to Gilbert Mercy Hospital, where doctors worked tirelessly to save him. At around 8:00 p.m., the unthinkable happened—Vincent was declared deceased. His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans. A little after 11:30 p.m., the family received a call no one expected: the medical examiner had detected a faint heartbeat. Vincent was immediately airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, fighting for his life.
In the early hours of February 9, around 4:00 a.m., doctors warned the family that Vincent’s organs were shutting down. His kidneys, lungs, and liver were all struggling. An MRI was ordered later that day to determine brain activity and potential damage. The results came back showing only two tiny “pencil‑dot” areas of potential brain damage, and doctors expressed grave concern. They explained that the next 72 hours would be critical for Vincent’s survival and neurological outcome. But once again, Vincent continued to fight. On Thursday, February 12, at 1:45 p.m., a follow‑up MRI brought a wave of hope the family desperately needed. By the grace of God, the results showed no brain damage. Only a small area of bruising was found, which doctors believe may cause minor balance issues—issues that Vincent’s young brain is expected to compensate for as he grows. Despite this miracle, Vincent still faces a long and challenging recovery. He will need extensive therapy, ongoing medical monitoring, and support for his healing organs.
As of Friday, Vincent is breathing on his own with the assistance of a ventilator while his lungs continue to heal. Doctors are taking things slowly, allowing Vincent’s body to guide the pace of his recovery. They are amazed by his strength and have lovingly begun calling him “the miracle baby.” The Fiordilino family is overwhelmed with gratitude—but also with medical expenses that are far beyond what they can manage alone. Between emergency care, air transport, ICU treatment, MRIs, organ support, and the long-term therapy ahead, the financial burden is immense. This GoFundMe has been created to help ease that burden so the family can focus on what matters most: supporting Vincent as he continues to defy the odds. Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a meaningful difference. If you cannot donate, sharing this page is just as powerful. Thank you for your prayers, your kindness, and your support for baby Vincent—our miracle fighter.
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is located in Gilbert, southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County. Vincent was initially treated at the hospital before being transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital after he was found alive.
Google Maps: Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Gilbert, AZ
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