The mother of terminally ill 11-month-old Charlie Gard, is holding on to hope, thanks to the massive global response to her son’s case. In an exclusive interview with British news network LBC, Connie Yates shared an encouraging update on a potentially life-saving treatment being offered by an American hospital.
“We’ve got some new hope now,” Yates told Nigel Farage for LBC. “There has been some new scientific evidence done which gives a higher chance of working for Charlie than they previously thought.”
That new hope comes in the form of an experimental treatment, which the New York Presbyterian Hospital has agreed to ship to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Charlie has been since last fall. The offer to ship the treatment to the U.K. honors various court rulings that forbade the Gard family from traveling abroad to seek care for Charlie.
Yates also shared her hope that Charlie’s doctors would reconsider their decision to take the infant off life support in the wake of the public outcry to let Charlie live.
Charlie’s case has recently gained the attention of world leaders like Pope Francis and President Donald Trump, who have offered to support the Gard family in any way possible.
Trump is expected to raise the issue during a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May today at the G20 gathering of world leaders in Hamburg, Germany, the Independent reported.
Speaking to LBC, Yates shared her own message for May:
“I just really, really want you to support us and help to give Charlie this chance,” she said. “I did actualy find your statement quite encouraging because you said if there is new information, Great Ormond Street would do what is in the best interests of Charlie. There is new information now that this has a better chance than previously thought, so I just hope that this gives Charlie that chance.”
“I’m pleading with you as the Prime Minister of our country to help one of your citizens and to support us like others are supporting us,” Yates added.