Support from around the world continues to pour in for Charlie Gard, a terminally ill infant whom the U.K. recently ordered to be taken off life support following his doctors’ requests.
On Monday, the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù hospital offered to take Gard in. According to the Catholic Herald, hospital president Mariella Enoc announced that they were reaching out to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in England, where the 11-month-old has been receiving care since last fall.
Charlie’s parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, have fought every legal decision to take their son off life support. But after a series of defeats, the family received a final blow last week, when the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) denied their request to seek treatment in the United States. British Prime Minister Theresa May has backed the ruling, stating her support for GOSH doctors.
The Gards and many others viewed the decision, which the Court claims would allow Charlie to “die with dignity,” as a death sentence. It is still their hope that Charlie’s doctors will consider alternatives.
“We know that it is a desperate case and that there are no effective therapies,” Mariella Enoc noted in a statement Monday. “We are close to the parents in prayer and, if this is their desire, willing to take their child, for the time he has left to live.”
Mariella Enoc: "Siamo vicini ai genitori nella preghiera e, se questo è il loro desiderio, disponibili ad accogliere #Charlie presso di noi" pic.twitter.com/6YzqBRNAC3
— Bambino Gesù (@bambinogesu) July 3, 2017
The Vatican hospital’s generous request would allow Charlie to live with dignity until his natural death.
On Tuesday, however, Crux reported the sad news that U.K. doctors rejected Bambino Gesù’s offer to treat Charlie in Rome.
Despite the latest disappointment, Charlie’s supporters show no signs of giving up. On Wednesday, the Twitter account “Charlie’s Fight” announced that a rally would be held in London on Thursday:
Tomorrow! London! Charlie's biggest protest yet!!!! Help save a child's life! Be heard! #CharlieGard pic.twitter.com/lpporNjyQ5
— The Charlie Gard Foundation (@charliesfight) July 5, 2017
The event was advertised as “Charlie’s biggest protest yet.”
Please keep the Gard family in your prayers, and be sure to check back with Faithwire for more updates on Charlie’s story.