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The intervention of the Pope and US President Donald Trump in Charlie Gard 's case has "saved his life so far", his mother has said.

Little Charlie, 11-months-old, has a rare genetic condition which specialists say has left him deaf, blind, brain-damaged, in pain and with no hope of recovery.

But high-profile figures have intervened in a last-minute attempt to save Charlie's life and claim he can be helped.

The Vatican and the US president tweeted their support for Charlie's parents and hospitals in Rome and the US have offered to take the little boy in.

Charlie's mum Connie Yates told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: "Yeah, they have saved his life so far.

"It turned it into an international issue. There are a lot of people that are outraged by what is going on. We have got new evidence now so I hope the judge changes his mind."

She said that "sometimes parents are right in what they think" and it is not simply that they do not want to switch off life support.

Ms Yates said the family now have seven specialist doctors - two from the US, two from Italy, one from England and two from Spain - who are supporting them.

(Image: Barcroft Media) (Image: PA)

She added: "We expect that structural damage is irreversible but I have yet to see something which tells me my son has irreversible structural brain damage."

However a leading expert has said that interventions in the case from high-profile figures are "unhelpful".

Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said only Charlie's family, the doctors treating him at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the legal tams know the exact details of his condition.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

In an open letter from the college, Prof Modi said the UK had a "clear and compassionate framework" for making life-or-death decisions in cases such as Charlie's.

She said: "Charlie Gard's tragic case continues to attract considerable media attention with interventions from many organisations and high-profile individuals at home and abroad.

"The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has been asked why we and other individual doctors have not commented on the specifics of the case.

(Image: AFP)

"The reason is the duty of doctor-patient confidentiality. This means that only the family, the doctors treating Charlie, and now the legal teams involved know the details of complex issues that define his situation.

"These issues - unknown to us and all those voicing opinions - will have been considered very carefully in reaching any decision. This is why interventions by external agencies or individuals, no matter how well-intended, are unhelpful.

"Charlie's situation is heartbreaking for his parents, and difficult for everyone involved, including the doctors and nurses looking after him.

"Unfortunately situations such as this, that involve withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, are not uncommon and fall within the responsibilities of many paediatricians."

Today Charlie's case will be heard by Mr Justice Francis this afternoon at the High Court.