Dear Charlie Gard’s parents. I want you to know that I haven’t been following your story all that closely but I have caught bits and pieces of it on the news. I knew that you were fighting for your son’s life but isn’t that what we all do? Or at least I thought it was.
It wasn’t until I was watching the local news and the top story was a mom that left her newborn child to starve. As a mom of four kids, it made me sob like crazy. I mean who does that to their child? What kind of mother does this?
After the news headlined this horrible story, I saw a Facebook post regarding Charlie.
Something made me click on the story. Maybe I just needed to hear something a bit more positive after hearing about what happened to the other baby.
When I clicked on the news article related to Charlie what really caught my attention was the negative comments.
People were saying that you and your husband are cruel for letting your child continue “living” as they put it. People said that you were playing God with your child’s life.
But you know what I thought when I read Charlie’s story?
I see two parents who are fighting for their child.
I thought about how lucky Charlie is to have such amazing parents that will do ANYTHING in their power to give their child a chance at life.
I can’t imagine the heartache you are facing. I sit here staring at my healthy 12-month-old son and I can’t imagine being told that I’m not allowed to fight for him. I can’t imagine hospitals, insurance companies, and doctors telling me as a mom that I can’t decide what is best for my son. I would fight with every last breath in me for my children.
Since when does a hospital get to decide who lives or dies? Why should a hospital get to decide who lives and who dies?
Why should a hospital be able to tell a parent that they have to pull the plug on their child?
I see a little boy who has so much love.
I see a mom and dad who are strong, brave and determined!
Your story is what I want to see more of in the news. I want to see fewer news segments and articles about parents who don’t give a damn about their kids. I want to see more stories about parents like you that fight for their kids.
I want to see more stories about parents like you that fight for their kids.
I challenge everyone that had negative comments about you to step back and think about what you are really doing for Charlie.
Are you being cruel and selfish?
No, you are strong, brave and teaching the world not to take no for an answer.
You are teaching other parents that it’s ok to fight for their children. You are teaching the world that just maybe hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies don’t always know best. You are teaching the world that your sons life matters.
You are teaching parents around the world that we need to enjoy every single second we have with our children.
Are you playing God with your son’s life?
Maybe? But isn’t everyone playing God to some degree? The medical community plays God every day with life-saving treatments. What’s wrong with making sure you have exhausted all options?
My heart would be ripped into pieces if I wasn’t allowed to take advantage of every single treatment available to my child. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself knowing there was even the smallest chance he could have survived.
My first born was airlifted to Univerisity of San Francisco due to life threatening breathing problems. Without the intervention, we received my son wouldn’t be here today. Does that mean we played God with his life? No, we used the technology available to use to save his life.
I want you to know that there are plenty of people around the world that feel your strength.
I know that sometimes as parents (moms especially) we need to hear that we are doing a good job. Sometimes we even feel like we need permission to make the decisions we are making.
From one mom to another, please continue fighting for Charlie.
Please show the world what it looks like to fight for our children.
Know that no matter what happens to Charlie, you are one rockstar of a mom!
Please continue fighting because you are teaching the world not to expect no from the medical community.
I want you to know that there are so many little babies around the world that wish they had someone like you fighting for them.
From one mom to another, keep fighting for Charlie!
Update: I just read that you have stopped the fight for Charlie. I know this was probably the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make. I know that the hospital and insurance company did not make it easy for you to continue the fight for Charlie. I’m so saddened that the doctors aren’t letting you bring Charlie home. It makes me sick that Charlie has been treated like a financial burden and not like a human. Please know that moms around the world are hugging their babies a little tighter tonight because of you and Charlie.
