The hospital said that Charlotte was deaf and blind. But she can now see and hear.

The hospital said that Charlotte would die of an infection over the winter. But she's still alive.

Now hospital sources "admit the 18-month-old baby may live on for 'a considerable time' -- potentially years rather than months."

Charlotte's parents went back to court a month ago to ask the judge to allow Charlotte at least some time (even if only five days) on a ventilator if she needs the help again. The judge delayed his decision a month.

Now it has been a month, and there has been a defeat in the courts.

It wasn't enough. Justice Hedley was glad that little Charlotte could see, hear, respond and smile, but believed his former ruling should continue to hold--- no resuscitation. This on hearing from the majority medical opinion--- the same opinion that last autumn held that she was permanently blind, deaf,and unresponsive, and would never survive the winter--- that she was 'terminally ill' and therefore any aggresive treatment would be pointless.

Who to believe? In this case it seems obvious. You have a little girl fighting for her life, and she has proven to the world her life is not dead-ended. You have her parents who want to fight with her till the end, till all hope is gone. And the doctors, who consider it in her best interest to die. Note that these are the same who judged for David Glass that he had no hope and his "best interests" lay in "allowing" him to die.

There is a caveat in the judge's ruling-- he notes that this new decision is not open-ended and is subject to review. What evidence will he need, I wonder, to decide in her favor?

But Charlotte hasn't given up, and we won't either. SHE NEEDS OUR HELP!

Background Information For Bloggers and Blog Readers:

Charlotte in the MSM

Charlotte's Photo Album

Baby 'should be allowed to die'
BBC News--04/20/05

Life-or-death day for baby Charlotte
The Times--04/17/05

Charlotte in the Blogosphere

Charlotte Wyatt
UK Commentators--04/19/05

Baby Charlotte to Get Ventilator Verdict This Week?
MediaCulpa Blog--04/19/05

Life Or Death Decisions This Week
Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff--04/17/05

Cross posted at BlogsForTerri

UPDATE:  A Few Contact Numbers

Main Hospital Number: (023) 9228 6000
The above telephone number will put you through to the main switchboard, who can then direct your call to the appropriate ext.

Chief Executive's telephone number: 023 9228 6770

Chairman's telephone number: 023 9228 6427