Connie and Chris are the dedicated parents of a 10 month old little boy named Charlie Gard, who has been a patient at your Hospital, for the majority of his life. Their son, Charlie, has a rare genetic condition called Mitochondrial Depletion Syndrome, as you would already know. This is a condition that zaps away energy from the muscles due to a low amount of Mitochondrial DNA. This is a condition that doesn't yet, have a cure.

However, there are treatments available in America such as Nucleoside Bypass Therapy, that Connie, Chris and 83,000 other people raised £1.3m for Charlie to have, over in America. His parents wished for Charlie to try this treatment (a non-invasive and oral medication), which would help to restore Charlie's Mitochondrial DNA and help it synthesise by giving him the natural compounds that he isn't able to produce enough of. This is the treatment, that a Doctor who specialises in Mitochondrial diseases in the USA, feels would be beneficial to Charlie.

With a lot of deep and dedicated time put into researching, his parents found that the treatment they wish for their son to have, is a  treatment that has already been tried on other children; some who even live in the U.K. Those who have tried this treatment, have also had the same genetic condition as Charlie, but the only difference being, is the strain. It then came to the parents attention as well as the UK publics attention, that the treatment has massively improved the lives of others who suffer with the rare genetic condition, with some pictured now riding a bike, smiling and perfectly healthy! 

All that Connie and Chris want to do, is help their son to get better, just like these children who are living a happy life. They want to give Charlie that same chance. What is the crime in that?They have always got Charlie's best interest at heart! 

However, Doctors at your hospital disagree with the parents beliefs and think that this medication wouldn't benefit  Charlie. They believe that Charlie is so severely ill, he should be allowed to 'die with dignity' and that life support should be withdrawn (against the parents wishes) to prevent further suffering. This is suffering that Chris, Connie and their families strongly feel that Charlie isn't in and in fact, strongly believe that there are signs of Charlie getting stronger e.g. charlie is putting on more weight, he is opening his eyes more frequently, he is becoming more aware of his surroundings etc.

As there wasn't a mutual agreement made, this led to a full legal battle between the hospital and the parents of Charlie Gard, unfortunately with no success for the parents. Throughout the legal battle, Connie and Chris were stripped of their parental rights, which not only prevents them from taking Charlie to America to receive a last option of treatment, but it also blocks them from making any future decisions for their child.

In November, it was discussed between the hospital (GOSH), Connie and Chris, where Charlie's end of life should happen either; 1. In Great Ormond Street Hospital 2. In a hospice or 3. at Connie and Chris' home. The parents both expressed that they wished for Charlie to go home. This has been yet another backtrack on hospitals behalf and you have denied Connie and Chris' last wish for this to happen. Connie and Chris have said that they have promised Charlie that one day, he would go home. We feel, that you are yet again giving the parents more heartbreak by allowing this.

We beg you, to fulfil this wish and allow them to take Charlie Gard home.