TOUGH COUPLE WHOSE LOVE SHONE THROUGH

ONLY just adults themselves, Alfie’s mother and father have found themselves wrestling with a heart-breaking dilemma any parents would find difficult to bear.

For all the commentary from doctors, religious leaders and the public on their son’s plight, Kate James, 20, and Tom Evans, 21, have remained steadfast in their devotion. Born and brought up in Liverpool, they come from working class backgrounds and were raised in tough inner city suburbs.

Mr Evans, the son of labourer James Evans and his wife, Sarah, grew up in a terraced street in Bootle, north Liverpool.

The second youngest of nine, his extended family have rallied support and many of his four sisters and three brothers have been daily visitors to Alfie at Alder Hey. Some are administrators of the Alfie’s Army Facebook page, the group of supporters who petitioned the Government and organised vocal protests – even storming the hospital on the day doctors removed Alfie’s life support.

Mr Evans, who left school at 1 , had completed a plastering course and was planning to follow his father into the building trade when Alfie fell ill. Mr Justice Hayden, in his February judgement to determine whether Alfie’s life support should be switched off, commended him for his articulate voice and intelligent absorption of the issues surrounding his son.

Mr Evans and Miss James, who hails from nearby Dingle, have been together for more than two years. They have admitted that Alfie was not planned, but nevertheless were delighted when their first born arrived in May 201 . They set up home with Miss James’ grandmother and – for the first few weeks of Alfie’s life – all appeared well. However, when he was around eight weeks old Miss James noticed problems with his sight. He was referred to hospital, before being admitted as an emergency after suffering a fit aged seven months, and has remained there ever since.

Miss James, who has two older brothers, has also been supported by her close family at the hospital. She has rarely spoken about her son, save for a few posts on Facebook, and has remained at his bedside.