By MARTIN ROBINSON
The parents of a sick baby Charlie Gard will today hear if their son’s life will be spared and said: ‘We’re praying that he gets his chance’. Chris Gard and Connie Yates want to take their eight-month-old son to America for experimental treatment against the wishes of British doctors who want to turn off his life support.
The couple have raised £1.26million for their son thanks to the generosity of the public who also want Charlie given his chance with US doctors.
In a joint statement they said ahead of today’s ruling by Mr Justice Francis: ‘We will always be eternally grateful whatever the outcome for Charlie. We’re praying that he gets his chance.
And in a message for their little son they said: ‘We love you. We will fight for you until the very end and we’ll pray that we’ll get to hold your warm hand forever. We won’t give up on you because you have a rare disease, it’s not your fault, you shouldn’t have to die’.
‘Charlie we are so immensely proud of you and we hope that we have done you proud by standing by your side and never giving up despite everything we’ve had to face.
‘You’re our baby and we are your parents and we will do ANYTHING for you. We’ve got the money, we’ve got our passports, we’ve got the Dr who’s got the medication. all you need is the chance. We won’t give up on you because you have a rare disease, it’s not your fault, you shouldn’t have to die, I’m sorry this has happened to you, I wish I could take your place!!
Mr Justice Francis finished hearing evidence on Friday where he said: ‘The parents are in an almost impossible situation’. He will announce his decision today.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London think it is time to stop providing life support and let the little boy, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, die with dignity.
Charlie’s parents, who spend every waking hour at their eight month old baby’s bedside, are adamant that he shows signs of growing stronger and is calmed by their presence.
Last week Charlie Gard’s desperate mother begged a High Court judge to give her brain-damaged son ‘one shot’ at life after she wept when an independent expert recommended he should be allowed to die.
They suffered a setback when Charlie’s court-appointed guardian, who praised the couple’s ‘devotion’ and ‘dignity’, said there is ‘no real prospect of improving Charlie’s condition or quality of life’.
But his defiant mother responded by begging the judge: ‘Charlie has one shot, one chance of life. Without this treatment, Charlie’s only alternative is death.
‘Charlie deserves his chance to improve and get a better quality of life.’
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London say Charlie, who has severe brain damage due to a rare genetic condition, should move to a palliative care regime to only ease his suffering.
His parents, from Bedfont, west London, disagree and want to be allowed to take him to a hospital in the US for a £1.2million treatment trial.
Charlie’s guardian recommended to the judge that he should die.
Victoria Butler-Cole, a barrister speaking for the guardian, told the judge: ‘The guardian has listened closely to the oral evidence during the hearing this week and has concluded that it is not in Charlie’s best interests to travel to America to receive nucleoside therapy.
‘This is not pioneering or life-saving treatment, but a purely experimental process with no real prospect of improving Charlie’s condition or quality of life.”
Source: dailymail.co
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