Charlie Gard's dad keeps promise to son with engagement announcement
Chris Gard says that before his son's death he had promised the child he would "care for and look after" the youngster's mother.
Saturday 2 June 2018 07:44, UK
The parents of Charlie Gard, the baby who died after being at the centre of a legal battle over his treatment, have announced they are to marry.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates had asked the High Court to rule their child should be allowed to undergo a therapy trial in New York.
But they were unsuccessful in their attempts and Charlie died last July, a week before his first birthday.
He had suffered from a rare genetic condition called mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
Mr Gard said that before his son's death he had promised the child he would "care for and look after" the youngster's mother.
He wrote on Facebook: "Just a couple of hours before Charlie passed away, I laid on his bed, held his hand and had a little father/son chat with him.
"I told him many things. I told him how much he was loved, how much he would be missed and how proud we all were of him, amongst lots of other things.
"I also made a number of promises to him. Ones that I will never break. And one of those promises I made was that no matter what happens, I would always care for and look after his gorgeous mummy for him.
"So I asked Connie if she would do me the honour of becoming my wife and sharing mine and our beautiful son's surname. And she said YES!!!
"When the day comes that we get married, the most important person to us will not be there, but don't worry, he'll be up there watching, hopefully with a big smile on his face. We love you Charlie and your legacy will carry on"
The parents, who are aged in their 30s, have launched a foundation to provide a "brighter future" for other sick children.
The couple, from Bedfont, west London, raised more than £1.3m to pay for therapy in America and said they wanted to establish a foundation with the donations.
They also said they want to raise awareness of mitochondrial depletion syndrome.
"Our vision is to enhance the quality of life for mitochondrial sufferers through innovative research, family support, and raise much-needed awareness for this devastating condition," they said on the Charlie Gard Foundation website.
Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London said the therapy would not help and said life-support treatment should stop.
Mr Justice Francis ruled in favour of Great Ormond Street, and Charlie's parents failed to overturn the ruling in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
They also failed to persuade European Court of Human Rights judges to intervene.