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Charlie Gard saved hours before life support machine was due to be turned off

Charlie's parents previously appeared on This Morning to raise awareness of their heartbreaking story

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Earlier this year, Connie Yates and Chris Gard left This Morning viewers in tears after explaining they had just one month to save their son Charlie’s life.

Their baby boy is suffering from a rare condition known as mitochrondrial depletion syndrome.

The distressed couple needed to raise £1.2 million for experimental life-saving therapy after a High Court judge ordered that their little tot should be allowed to die.

But now the couple have been given a glimmer of hope after Supreme Court have agreed to look into the case.

Charlie is currently on life-support at Great Ormond Street Hosiptal; this was due to be switched off at midnight on June 1.

This means he will remain on life-support care until a decision is made.

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Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on their ITV daytime show back in March, Connie made a desperate plea for people to help save her son.

She said: “We can’t just let our baby die when there is hope and treatment available that might help him.

“If Charlie receives this treatment and it does work it won’t just be his life that’s saved, it will be many more children in future who are born with this horrible disease.

“Like any loving parents, we will do whatever it takes to save our baby’s life.”

The couple have managed to raise £1.3 million to be able to take their tot to the US to undergo treatment.

Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Charlie is being treated, spoke about the emotional time.

They said: “We listen to and respect the views of every parent whose child is in our care but our duty is always to act in the best interests of the child.

“We will continue to support and co-operate with Charlie’s parents as best we can at this difficult time.”

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Connie and Chris lost their previous court battle to keep baby Charlie alive last month.

He said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts, but with complete conviction for Charlie’s best interests, that I accede to these applications and rule that GOSH may lawfully withdraw all treatment save for palliative care to permit Charlie to die with dignity.”

But the couple are determined to fight for their baby boy and have since continued to try to find any possible solution to help save his life.

Supreme Court justices will sit on June to consider whether to hear an appeal from Charlie’s parents.


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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