“Please give him a chance”: These are the words of the parents of a sick boy at the centre of a High Court battle over whether to continue providing life-support treatment.
More than 80,000 people – including the Kingston and Richmond Special Education Needs Team – have donated more than £1.2million to fund ground-breaking treatment in America for eight-month-old Charlie Gard, who has a rare genetic condition and brain damage.
His parents postman Chris Gard and Connie Yates of Bedfont, Hounslow, yesterday pleaded with a High Court judge to let them take their son to America, where they believe treatment could save their son’s life.
But doctors are divided over whether the treatment would be beneficial, and whether it might cause Charlie more suffering.
From Sunday: High Court judge to decide Charlie Gard's fate after Hounslow parents reach £1.2 million fundraising target
Mr Gard described himself as "Charlie's proud dad" in court on Wednesday (April 5) and pleaded with Mr Justice Francis: "Please give him a chance."
"My son is the apple of my eye and I would do anything for him and I want to give him a chance," he said.
"He deserves a chance.
"It doesn't mean he should have to die because he will not be like another little boy running around."
Mr Gard (left)and Miss Yates (centre) arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Pic credit: Lauren Hurley/PA Wire
Miss Yates told the judge that her son experienced pleasure and was not in pain.
"If I thought for a moment that Charlie was in pain or suffering I would not fight for that life to be extended," she said.
"All we ask is that he be given the chance to have the treatment proposed.
"Charlie deserves that chance."
From March: Couple fighting hospital to keep son Charlie Gard alive need to find £800,000 in two weeks
But specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London think it is time to stop providing life-support treatment to Charlie – who has a form of mitochondrial disease which causes progressive muscle weakness – and move him onto a palliative care regime.
The specialist told the court this week there was a ''very small'' theoretical chance treatment would result in any improvement.
But she added it was likely Charlie was experiencing pain but was unable to let anyone know.
''Charlie is suffering and that outweighs the small theoretical chance that this may be effective treatment,'' she said.
''It has never been about cost to us. This treatment could theoretically be given here.
''We don't feel it is right for this child at this time because of the suffering and the extent of the neurological damage.''
The hearing resumes on Friday, April 7.
Got a story relating to Richmond? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk
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