Southend mum says Archie Battersbee is trying to communicate with her

Hollie Dance, 46, has been by the bedside of son Archie Battersbee, 12, since he sustained a head injury at the family’s home in Southend on April 7.

Currently being treated at Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London, Ms Dance has also had to contend with a legal battle with doctors at the hospital saying his brain stem cellss are dead and arguing life-support treatment should stop.

However while Ms Dance who lives on Alton Gardens does not know the extent of his injuries she says Archie has squeezed her hand and fingers for a prolonged period of time.

While hospital staff say these are just reflex actions she insists Archie is trying to communicate with her in some way.

Mum Hollie Dance has been by Archie's bedside since the accident

She said: “You can see from videos I’ve taken how hard the grip was. My fingers are bright red and his little knuckles were white.

“I think that’s his way of letting me know he’s still here and just needs more time. We don’t know the extent of the damage but I would rather have some of Archie than none of Archie just to wake up every morning and kiss his beautiful little face.”

She added: “His grip is so much stronger now than it was at the start. The fact he’s gone from not a lot of strength to a grip I found very tight shows what difference time has made already.”

With a court order lifting restrictions on naming Archie and Royal London Hospital on Wednesday Ms Dance has finally been able to share her story of the past week admitting she felt “emotionally exhausted.”

She said she was being pressured by staff at the hospital to make a decision on Archie’s next steps but she insists he needs more time in order to fully recover from his accident which occurred less than a month ago.

With brain stem test requiring his ventilator to be removed she says Archie is not ready to receive this type of procedure.

Archie was a talented gymnast

She said she felt under pressure to make a decision on Archie’s next steps but she insists he needs more time in order to fully recover from his accident which occurred less than a month ago.

With brain stem test requiring his ventilator to be removed she says Archie is not ready to receive this type of procedure.

Ms Dance said: “At the minute I really need to concentrate on Archie.”

Specialists treating Archie think it “highly likely” the youngster is dead, and say life-support treatment should stop.

But Ms Dance Archie’s father and Paul Battersbee, have raised concerns about doctors’ proposals.

Hospital bosses want a judge based in the Family Division of the High Court in London to decide what moves are in Archie’s best interests.

A judge is due to oversee a further hearing on May 12. 

Ms Dance said: “I just think where there’s life there’s hope. I’ve been sent stories where people have been in comas for months and all of a sudden they’ll wake up.

“I just feel he needs time, and I don’t think its fair a timeline is put on these children. They deserve a fighting chance and a few weeks isn’t long enough.”

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