Indi Gregory’s dad shares heartbreaking eulogy at funeral for ‘special’ baby girl after life support was switched off
INDI Gregory’s dad paid tribute to his “warrior” baby at her emotional funeral today after she died following a huge legal battle.
The eight-month-old passed away in her mum’s arms last month after her life support was switched off.
Indi had mitochondrial disease, an incurable condition which drains energy from the body’s cells, and a hole in her heart.
Mum Claire Staniforth and dad Dean Gregory fought to keep their daughter alive in a mammoth legal battle.
Brave Dean today carried the baby’s tiny white coffin into Nottingham Cathedral for her funeral.
In a moving tribute, the dad praised his “beautiful warrior” who had to “fight to live from day one”.
He added: “I honestly and truly feel, deep in my heart, that Indi was not only beautiful, strong and unique. I just knew, from the start, she was very special.
“Nonetheless, I could never have imagined the sort of journey we and Indi would have to go through to fight for her life.
“She didn’t only have to battle against her health problems, she had to battle against a system that makes it almost impossible to win. Yet, it was her weakest point, her health problems, that distinguished Indi as a true warrior.
“I will love you always, Indi. From Dad x.”
Tearful mourners lined the streets as Indi’s white coffin was taken to the cathedral in a horse-drawn carriage.
The white horses wore pink feathers and blankets as they led the youngster on her final journey.
Indi’s carriage was also adorned with pink and white teddy-shaped flowers.
The baby suffered from the same condition as Charlie Gard, who died in 2017 after his parents lost a court battle to prolong his treatment.
Her parents launched a mammoth legal battle to keep their daughter alive as they vowed to fight to the end.
At one stage they even planned to move to Italy for treatment in a last-ditch attempt to save her.
But they lost their fight at every hurdle, a judge ultimately ruling that keeping Indi’s life support switched on was not in her “best interests“.
In a final crushing blow for her parents, the judge also refused their pleas to let Indi die at home rather than the Queen‘s Medical Centre in Nottingham or at a hospice.
Announcing her tragic death last month, Dean said: “Indi’s life ended at 01.45am. Claire and I are angry heartbroken and ashamed.
“The NHS and the Courts not only took away her chance to live a longer life, but they also took away Indi’s dignity to pass away in the family home where she belonged.
“They did succeed in taking Indi’s body and dignity, but they can never take her soul. They tried to get rid of Indi without anybody knowing, but we made sure she would be remembered forever. I knew she was special from the day she was born.
“Claire held her for her final breaths.”