The Texas toddler whose fight for life brought national attention to end-of-life care died of natural causes Saturday in the arms of his mother.
Elizabeth Graham, director of Texas Right to Life, said doctors did not withdraw treatment.
"His brain quit working, and his body gave up," she said.
Over the last week, Graham added, Emilio Gonzales' brain tissue had quickly deteriorated, triggering an increase in seizures.
"On Saturday he was having trouble breathing and his symptoms were much worse. A staff member told his mother, Catarina, she might want to make some calls," Graham said. "He died around 7 p.m. Saturday."
Emilio Gonzales suffered from Leigh's disease, which caused the degeneration of his central nervous system. In March, an ethics panel at Brackenridge Children's Hospital in Austin deemed Emilio’s life "futile" and told his mother it planned to take him off life-saving treatment.
Though Catarina Gonzales knew her son would eventually die, she fought for doctors to recognize the value of his life and to give him the best care possible.
In April, she told Fox News, "He may not live that long, but that's nobody's choice. That's my choice. And that's God's choice. Nobody can say, 'We're going to take him off, that's it.' "
Graham said Catarina Gonzales' fight for her son was a lesson for everyone.
"When we hear withdrawal-of-treatment and quality-of-life judgments, we picture 98-year-old grandmothers who've lived long, full lives, and the families just can't let go," she said. "Emilio, being a toddler, really changed the face of quality-of-life decisions."
People facing a similar situation, she said, should make sure they involve advocates and seek second opinions – and they should know they have a say in the matter.
"Ask more questions and get more information," Graham suggested. "Involve other experts in their fight to protect their loved ones."
