Charlie Gard’s parents ‘hopeful’ as High Court prepares to consider new evidence

The terminally ill 11-month-old, who is currently on life support at Great Ormond Street Hospital, has had the case for keeping him alive to try an experimental treatment turned down by the courts time and time again.

But mother Connie Yates and father Chris Gard have said they are determined to continue their fight for their son to have nucleoside therapy, which is only available overseas.

Ms Yates said: “He’s our son, he’s our flesh and blood. We feel that it should be our right as parents to decide to give him a chance at life.”

She added: “There is nothing to lose, he deserves a chance.”

The case will go back to the High Court this afternoon to hear fresh arguments following claims of “new information” from researchers at the Vatican’s children’s hospital.

The parents added: “The whole world knows about us and about Charlie and our fight. There’s a lot of pressure on it.

“It’s hard work but we have hope so that keeps us strong. Charlie keeps us strong.

“Until you’re in this situation, you don’t understand the power of hope.”

But the worldwide support garnered for baby Charlie, from people including Donald Trump and the Pope, has been blasted as “unhelpful” by healthcare professionals.

Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health admitted Charlie’s situation is “heartbreaking” for his parents, and “difficult” for others including medical staff, but went on to claim even well-meaning interventions from outsiders can be unhelpful.

Mr Gard, 33, said that while Charlie’s brain is affected by his illness he believes there is no evidence of “catastrophic brain damage” – however doctors treating him said they believe his brain damage is “severe and irreversible”.

The parents said they want to be trusted to act in his best interests, with Mr Gard adding they would stop the treatment if they believed it was causing any harm to their 11-month-old son.

He said: “If we won the court case and we got to America, and then within the first week of treatment he started suffering and he was in pain, we would let him go.

“This isn’t about us. This is about Charlie and giving him the chance he needs.”