Charlie Gard’s parents watch over their son in tear-jerking new photo as medics in US and Rome back tot and public pledge £1.3 million for sick lad
THE Vatican hospital and a top US specialist yesterday joined world leaders in an 11th-hour campaign to save British baby Charlie Gard.
Rome’s Bambino Gesu hospital said the stricken 11-month-old’s mum contacted them after they pledged help.
A world-leading specialist in New York pledged his services while a Vatican-run centre known as the Pope’s Hospital offered the terminally-ill tot refuge for as long as he needs it.
The Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome said it had been contacted by Charlie’s mum after they promised to care for him.
Yesterday a father whose son is being treated by an American specialist said: “This doctor in New York gave us hope, and Charlie Gard has hope too.”
An Italian mum whose nine-year-old son was born with the same condition as Charlie revealed she is in touch with his family and urged them to “keep fighting”.
American Art Estopinan said the top medic at the Columbia University Medical Centre defied other doctors who had warned him and wife Olga that their son would only live for two months.
His son, Art Jr, was diagnosed with the same rare genetic condition as Charlie soon after birth.
The youngster is now six years old. But Art, from Baltimore, Maryland, said: “If we were in the UK, he would be dead today.”
The boys are believed to be among just 16 recorded cases of MDDS, which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
The global boosts for Charlie’s parents, postman Chris Gard and Connie Yates, came a day after US President Donald Trump said he wanted to help their 11-month-old son and Pope Francis voiced further support for the stricken child.
Charlie is set to be taken off life support against his parents’ wishes after a legal fight.
Doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital say he should be allowed to “die with dignity” because his condition has left him brain damaged and unable to breathe unaided.
But last night, Bambino Gesu president Mariella Enoc said: “Charlie’s mother called us after hearing about our offer. She is a very determined woman and a very decisive woman who doesn’t want to give up in the face of anything.
“Our medical director and our doctors are looking into what can be done but in our initial investigation we have been told by Great Ormond Street that for legal reasons he cannot be moved.
“Nevertheless we will continue speaking to the family and our team here will carry on studying the case to see what can be done.
“The only thing I will say and repeat is that we are ready to welcome the family and help them, as the Pope requested.”
CAN ANYONE SAVE CHARLIE GARD?
After Donald Trump offered his support to save desperately ill Charlie Gard pressure is mounting on Theresa May to make an intervention.
The US President would need her support to go over the European Court of Human Right's decision to take the boy off life support.
Her official spokesman said: "This is a very sensitive case. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to talk about it here at this point other than to say our thoughts are with him and his family."
The decision was made last week to switch off his life support.
White House officials revealed yesterday that a doctor and hospital in the country have offered their services - reportedly free of charge.
The president has not spoken with the Gard family himself but members of the administration have - with the help of UK government.
But London's Great Ormond Street Hospital can turn off his life support at any point - having already given the family more time with their son than initially planned.
If the White House wants to help the ill youngster, it must do so before doctors decide to withdraw his care.
On top of this, the family would face legal difficulties if they went against the European Court's rulings.
Sarah Jones, a medical negligence and human rights lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said nothing can be done to overturn the ruling.
She explained: “This is an absolutely heartbreaking case, but the highest courts in the UK and Europe have made a decision and that decision is binding, it cannot be overruled.
“Charlie’s tragic case has prompted a huge outpouring of public sympathy and support, but despite everyone’s good intentions nothing can influence or change the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.”
As the time ticks away solicitors for the family are talking with British officials and the White house to try and work out what can be done.
Pope Francis had earlier tweeted: “To defend human life, above all when it is wounded by illness, is a duty of love that God entrusts to all."
The White House said yesterday that the President was “trying to be helpful”, but his tweet may be seen as a challenge to UK and European judges who ruled sending Charlie to the US for experimental treatment would not be in his best interests.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Teacher Chiara Paolini told yesterday how she was contacted by Charlie’s family after posting an emotion-charged appeal to EU judges on YouTube.
She described how her son Emanuele Campostrini had defied doctors who doubted he would live for a year. He is now nine.
Chiara, from Viareggio near Pisa, told The Sun: “I often speak to Charlie’s aunt, his dad’s sister.
“They tell me Charlie’s parents are always at his bedside. They cuddle him and give him affection, which is beautiful and bad at the same time because they know he has been condemned to death.
“What I would say to Charlie’s parents is keep fighting. I have said this to his aunt as well, I know it must be difficult for them but they have the support of so many people across the world.
“He should not be allowed to die simply because the doctors and judges say so, he should be allowed to live and have a chance of life.
COURT BIDS 'OVER'
CHARLIE’S parents have exhausted all their legal options.
Last week the European Court of Human Rights rejected a final plea to intervene in the case.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates appealed to Strasbourg after losing battles in the High and Supreme Courts.
They wanted Charlie to undergo a trial therapy in the US. But specialists said it would not help. The court agreed, concluding further treatment would “continue to cause Charlie significant harm”.
His parents argued Charlie was being “unlawfully deprived” of his liberty, contrary to human rights legislation.
But ECHR judges said the application was “inadmissible” and that their decision was “final”.
Celebrities including Michelle Keegan, Katie Price and Charlotte Crosby have joined the campaign to try to save little Charlie.
The Ministry of Justice said the court rulings in Charlie’s case “were made by an independent judiciary” and could not be challenged.
SO, WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON IN THE ROW?
DOCTORS and the courts say Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity — but his plight is attracting global support. Are his parents right to keep fighting?
YES - says Vicky Cliffe, whose son Leo has Williams syndrome
HIS parents brought him into this world. They should be allowed to decide how he leaves.
I met Charlie in March when my 16-year-old son Leo was in the same care unit after surgery.
To fight against medical professionals as his mum and dad have takes such strength. There is not one parent in Great Ormond Street that begrudges their fight.
They should be allowed to try whatever they can.
NO - says Ethics Professor Dominic Wilkinson, of Oxford University
IT is important for Charlie’s sake that his parents recognise the limits of what medicine can do.
The decision of weighing up the pros and cons is never an easy one but it is important to focus on patient comfort.
In Charlie’s situation, the doctors looked carefully at how treatment could harm him, and feel that continuing treatment in intensive care is not best for him.
The decision is in Charlie’s best interest.
