After months of a seemingly never-ending legal battle over the life and care of 10-month-old Charlie Gard, the baby from London, U.K., may have just gotten yet another intervention from none other than U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Francis of Italy.
Facebook/Chris Gard
After the European Court of Human Rights officially rejected the motion for the terminally-ill baby to be moved to the U.S. for experimental treatment, doctors have been in talks with Charlie’s parents—Chris Gard and Connie Yates—about when the child will be taken off life support.
Following the ECHR’s decision last week, Chris and Connie requested that they be able to take their son home to die comfortably in his crib—the one he’s never slept in. They were denied that right and told their son would die in Great Ormand Street Hospital on June 30, 2017.
“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 on June 29.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XueR4V2RHAI
The heartfelt plea garnered worldwide attention with international headlines reporting on the 10-month-old being “sentenced to death” against his parents’ will. Connie and Chris were then granted “a little more time” to say goodbye to their son.
Then, on Monday morning—just days before Charlie’s short little life is set to officially end—U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter like he does, to offer his support and solidarity to Charlie’s parents saying:
“If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.”
As referenced in Trump’s Tweet, Pope Francis previously made remarks at a Vatican press conference Sunday, saying he is following the case with “affection and sadness,” and praying the parents’ wishes are “not neglected.” He called for Chris and Connie to be allowed to “accompany and treat their child until the end.”
Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life echoed the pope in a statement saying: “Dear Charlie, dear parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates, we are praying for you and with you.”
There’s no word yet on whether or not the leaders’ remarks will provide yet another “eleventh-hour” saving grace for Charlie Gard, but our continued prayers are with the family and this precious baby boy.
In recent weeks, Faithit has been updating reports of the continued battle for life between the child’s parents and pretty much every court in the European Union.