Mother of tragic Charlie Gard feels ‘surge of pure love’ as she holds her newborn son

This was the moment of pure joy the mother of tragic Charlie Gard could scarcely believe.

She locked her eyes on Charlie’s ‘miracle’ baby brother for the first time as, following a successful caesarean, he was handed to her wrapped in a towel.

Miss Yates said she ‘felt a surge of pure love’ as the newborn snuggled in her arms.

She and proud father Chris Gard wept with joy as they said he was the ‘spitting image’ of Charlie. 

Precious moment: Connie with her baby boy

He arrived on Wednesday night – only a day after the fourth anniversary of the birth of Charlie, who died of a rare genetic condition three years ago, shortly before his first birthday.

Last night Mr Gard said: ‘We are extremely tired but do not want to sleep as we just want to look at him the whole time. He’s absolutely gorgeous and has passed every medical examination he’s been given.’

Miss Yates has been crying with happiness since their second child, not yet named, was born weighing 8lb 6oz. 

Yesterday Mr Gard, 36, told the Daily Mail: ‘The world feels a whole lot more beautiful this morning. 

‘We’ve had about an hour’s sleep between us, but we just can’t stop looking at him. Connie was amazing, as always.’

Care worker Miss Yates, 34, of Bedfont, south-west London, said: ‘He looks so similar to Charlie at the same age – it’s quite uncanny.

Charlie Gard is pictured at one day old

Care worker Miss Yates, 34, of Bedfont, south-west London, said: ‘It’s scary looking back at photos of Charlie and looking at our new baby… spitting image.’  Pictured left is baby Gard, and right is Charlie Gard at one day old

Care worker Miss Yates, 34, of Bedfont, south-west London, said: ‘He looks so similar to Charlie at the same age – it’s quite uncanny. 

‘It’s scary looking back at photos of Charlie and looking at our new baby… spitting image.’

Charlie was born on August 4, 2016. He battled a rare genetic condition while his parents fought the medical system in the courts for permission to take him to the US for pioneering treatment. 

They were blocked by hospital chiefs but their cause attracted support from millions around the world, including the Pope and President Donald Trump.

The courts stood in their way and on July 28, 2017, Charlie succumbed to mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which saps energy from the organs. 

Throughout the hearings at the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court, Charlie’s father clutched his son’s favourite soft toy, a cuddly monkey.

Yesterday they placed a baby version of the monkey next to their new son in a poignant reminder of his older sibling. 

Baby Gard stood a one-in-four chance of being born with the same devastating illness as Charlie. But he was tested in the womb and declared free of the syndrome. 

More tests followed after his birth at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital.

So happy: Connie and Chris with their son. Mr Gard said: 'It was a truly magical and extremely emotional moment. Now we have genuine smiles on our faces.’

So happy: Connie and Chris with their son. Mr Gard said: ‘It was a truly magical and extremely emotional moment. Now we have genuine smiles on our faces.’

Mr Gard, a postman, said: ‘They have been amazing from start to finish. They knew the history and have done everything possible for us – and now, here we are, with the baby we have craved in our arms.

‘He is a perfectly healthy boy – we’ve now been told this on numerous occasions. It is just music to our ears, because we went through such hell last time.

‘It is one of life’s true miracles, watching your child being born, and this was no different for us. 

‘It was a truly magical and extremely emotional moment. Now we have genuine smiles on our faces.’

The couple raised £1.3million to help Charlie, which they have now given to the Charlie Gard Foundation, which was set up to help other families in similar situations.      

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