“Our parental rights have been stripped away. We can’t even take our own son home to die.”
These are the heart-wrenching words spoken by the parents of 10-month-old Charlie Gard, who is scheduled to be taken off of life support tomorrow.
Hearts are breaking across the world for Connie Yates and Chris Gard, London parents who have literally fought to the death for their precious baby boy who was diagnosed with a disease called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. Only 16 people have ever been diagnosed with the rare condition that doctors have deemed terminal for their son, Charlie.
Though treatment options have been exhausted in the U.K., Connie and Chris were determined to fly their son to the U.S. for potentially life-saving experimental treatment. However, doctors have asserted that the boy must be taken off life support now in order to “die with dignity.”
According to LifeNews, The UK Courts have ‘defended what seems indefensible’:
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“That a hospital can hold a child hostage and overrule a decision by parents to obtain treatment elsewhere; and
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That a hospital can determine that death is in the ‘best interests’ of a child.”
After raising 1.6 million dollars and battling several rounds with the European Court of Human Rights, the young couple has tragically lost their fight.
Charlie’s life support will officially “run out” tomorrow.
Photo/YouTube
“The fourth of August 2016 was the best day of our lives; the day that Charlie was born. The 30th of [June], 2017, is going to be the worst day of our lives,” said Connie through painful sobs.
Photo/YouTube
And to worsen the devastating blow, the doctors are also now denying that Charlie be taken home to die in the peace and comfort of his own home.
“We know the day our son’s gonna die, and we don’t even get a say in what happens to him,” said Chris in an emotional home video that the couple released today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XueR4V2RHAI