<div><p>As Charlie Gard fights for his life, his parents are fighting a different war, and they just lost a major battle.</p><p>A court in the UK has ruled that doctors can turn off the life support of Charlie Gard, a newborn just a few months old, against his parents' wishes.</p><p>Charlie has a rare condition called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, he's 1 of only 16 people to ever suffer from the disease.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Charlieparents---the-sun.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Charlieparents---the-sun_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Charlieparents---the-sun_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Charlieparents---the-sun_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Charlieparents---the-sun_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Charlieparents---the-sun_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="Charlie and Parents" alt="Charlie and Parents" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>The Sun</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>The syndrome basically causes cells to malfunction, stopping the flow of energy. In Charlie's case it's led to the death of his brain, kidney and muscle cells.</p><p>There's no cure, and in the other cases the syndrome has caused death in infancy or in early childhood. Still, some treatment options exist with early results showing a promising reversal in some symptoms.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>It's a chance Chris Gard and Connie Yates, Charlie's parents, are desperate to take.</p><p>"He deserves this chance," begged Chris in a packed courtroom, but the judge wouldn't, or couldn't, listen.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/gard-parents---the-independent.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/gard-parents---the-independent_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="Parents" alt="Parents" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>The Independent</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Citing the "heaviest of hearts" the judge delivered his emotional ruling. He sided with the doctors of Great Ormond Street who petitioned the court to withdraw life support, allowing Charlie a natural death.</p><p>Chris and Connie have raised over £1 million to treat Charlie in America, but experts testified that even with the proposed treatment, Charlie's brain death is permanent.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/charliemonkey-go-fund-me.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/charliemonkey-go-fund-me_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="Charlie" alt="Charlie" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Go Fund Me</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Clutching his son's stuffed monkey, Chris sobbed openly in court after the judge read his decision.</p><p>The couple has said they plan to appeal the ruling, and seem willing to take the fight through the courts to give their son a chance at life. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>As long as the matter is before the courts Charlie will remain on life support, fighting his own battle.</p></div>