Parents of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard have just two weeks to raise £800,000 for life-saving treatment
Charlie Gard's parents have been locked in a legal battle with British doctors who want to turn off his ventilator
A COUPLE whose baby son is dying from a rare genetic condition say they are "running out of time" to save his life and have just two weeks to raise another £800,000.
Charlie Gard's parents — who have been locked in a legal battle with British doctors who want to turn off his ventilator — hope to take him to the US for potentially life-saving treatment.
The seven month-old suffers from mitochondrial depletion syndrome and has been in intensive care at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital since he was eight weeks old.
More than 17,600 people have so far donated a total of more than £400,000 to the family's since the end of January.
Now mum Connie Yates and dad Chris Gard say they have to reach a target of £1.2million by April 3 or the stricken tot will not survive.
Connie wrote on the GoFundMe page: "We are running out of precious time with our baby.
"He can't have this treatment in the UK so our only hope now is to get Charlie to America. This will obviously cost us a ridiculous amount of money.
"If we don't raise enough money then we wont be able to go to America for treatment and Charlie will die."
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The couple say Charlie has already been accepted at a US hospital for a pioneering treatment called nucleoside bypass therapy, which was not offered by doctors here.
Great Ormond Street specialists say he should be allowed to die with dignity and applied to a court for permission to switch off his life-support machines.
Charlie was healthy when he was born last August but aged eight weeks went into hospital where his desperate parents have watched him "get weaker and weaker".
This Morning viewers were left in tears during an emotional interview with baby Charlie's parents Connie and Chris.
Last week they told of their relief after doctors lifted a "do not resuscitate" order that would have stopped medics from trying to revive him if his condition suddenly deteriorated.
Postman dad Chris, 32, said: "The decision came out of the blue and was later confirmed by his consultant.
"Connie and I were thrilled because it is such a positive step in the right direction. We are hoping it means doctors believe there is hope for Charlie."
Charlie's case is set to be heard at the High Court on April 3, when Connie and Chris must convince a judge there is a chance the treatment could save the tot's life.
At a previous hearing Mr Justice Francis said it was "one of the saddest types of cases that can come before these courts".
He added that Connie and Chris were "utterly devoted to Charlie and have worked hard to become expert parents in this disease.";
What is mitochondrial depletion syndrome?
Mitochondrial depletion syndrome is a rare recessive disorder that disrupts the body's ability to provide energy to the body's muscles, kidneys and brain.
The condition sees muscles rapidly weaken before the body goes into respiratory failure.
The most common cause of death is pulmonary infection with only a few patients surviving to their late childhood and teens.
There are currently no cures for the condition.
Katie Gollop QC, for GOSH, said the treatment Charlie's family want has already been considered and not adopted by doctors at the hospital.
Representing the family, Sophia Roper told the court Charlie's parents believe he is in "much better shape than the hospital does".
In a heartfelt plea, mum Connie wrote to doctors: "I can't put into words how horrible it is to see court papers with our baby's name on them.
"Our son is being summoned to death.
"We love our child with every ounce of our being and we want what's best for him.
"We have his best interests in mind... give him medications and make him better - isn't that what any parent would do? Find me one that wouldn't."
The parents of Charlie have begged for help to get treatment for their son
Connie wrote on the appeal page: "We just CAN'T let our baby die when there is something that might help him!
"We won't give up on him because he has a rare disease. He deserves a chance and he deserves a life as much as anyone else."
She added: "We need to find treatments for incurable diseases. We need to give other people hope. We need to start saving lives.. hopefully starting with Charlie".
To support the family, page on GoFundMe.
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