Doctors treating Charlie Gard have been ordered to continue providing life-support for the tot for a further three weeks, so as to give the European Court of Human Rights time to properly analyse his case.
The update was shared late last night by parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard, who are fighting the final leg of Charlie’s legal battle at the European Courts.
The decision comes just days after Connie and Chris took to social media, to share a photo of Charlie with his first passport.
The tot was pictured holding the travel document under his hand, the caption reading: “Patiently waiting…”
Charlie suffers from a rare genetic condition affecting his brain. While doctors treating him at Great Ormond Street Hospital claim that Charlie will have no quality of life if he is kept on life-support, Connie and Chris want to give their son every possible chance at life.
They launched a fundraising campaign, to raise money to bring the 10-month-old to the States, for an experimental treatment. They believe that this treatment could give Charlie one last fighting chance at life.
Despite having raised the £1.3 million they need to send Charlie away for the treatment, judges in both the High Court and Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Great Ormond Street Hospital experts.
It was ruled that Charlie’s life-support should be switched off, so as to allow the tot to ‘die with dignity’.
In one last attempt to help their son, Connie and Chris appealed to the ECHR to keep Charlie on life-support. Last week, the court agreed to maintain Charlie’s treatment until this week, at the earliest, while they considered his case.
Throughout the court case, experts have claimed that Charlie has irreversible brain damage. His parents, however, have argued that he shows signs of maintaining eye contact – and they want to give him every chance to thrive.
It was an emotional weekend for Connie and Chris, as they marked their first Father’s Day with Charlie. They celebrated the day in hospital, sharing a beautiful post of father and son enjoying an embrace.
Hearts all over the world have gone out to Charlie and his parents, with many flocking to social media to share their message of love and support throughout their traumatic journey.
We will keep you updated when more information emerges from the courts.
