Margaret Clayton: Astonishing courage of Charlie Gard’s parents who were dealt life’s cruellest hand

AS Charlie Gard’s parents face the heartbreak of having lost their beloved baby, we can only imagine how desperate they are feeling.

Connie Yates and Chris Gard fought valiantly over the past eight months to prolong Charlie’s life.

But last week, following the latest MRI scans, they accepted that his condition was deteriorating and that it was time to let him go – albeit with a heavy heart. He passed away on Friday.

Charlie was born with mitochondrial disease, a progressive muscle-wasting illness.

His plight touched the hearts of millions of people worldwide who understood how determined Connie and Chris were to give their precious baby every possible chance to live longer.

They went to the courts to pursue their right to allow their son to be treated by an American doctor who believed he could help. They raised more than £1.3 million in donations.

But it was not to be.

Sadly, but wisely, they accepted the inevitable – and let Charlie go.

Many parents face tough choices. But Charlie’s story made us all think. What would we do in their situation?

How broken Connie and Chris must feel right now facing a future without their beautiful little boy.

We never know how we will cope with grief. Some people accept it, others fight it, some find a strength they never knew they had.

It’s hard to lose our parents but there is an inevitability about it. It’s the natural order of things.

But our children? It’s impossible for that ever to seem right. We want them to have the opportunity to enjoy life. To find their own route to happiness, fulfilment, relationships, a long and happy future.

For that to be cut short is a cruel twist of fate.

I have been bowled over time after time during my working life when I’ve interviewed parents whose children died of an incurable illness, or in an accident, or were murdered.

So many of these mums and dads displayed a courage and strength of spirit which was astonishing and beautiful to behold.

All the nonsense we fuss and fret about is forgotten when you see parents surviving, living and loving after losing a son or daughter.

Where do they find the will to keep going? For some it’s through faith and trust in God, for others it’s a belief in humanity, our essential goodness.

Who knows how Connie and Chris Gard will cope without their baby, but I believe that the strength they’ve found through fighting for Charlie will not be lost.

In his name they’ll do it – and that will be his legacy.