Baby Charlotte Press Release

Darren and Debbie Wyatt, the parents of Charlotte Wyatt--the baby the hospital doesn't believe should continue living--have released this press release several days ago:

The parents of tragic baby Charlotte Wyatt today released new pictures of their daughter - which they say prove her health is improving.

Darren and Debbie Wyatt say the new photographs, taken just three weeks ago, show that 19 month old Charlotte is growing all the time.

When Charlotte was born she was just 5in. long and weighed under 1lb..

But today the baby is 26in. long and weighs 15lb..

The couple can now take Charlotte around hospital corridors in a pram, sparking hopes she could one day go home with them.

The dramatic development has been made possible by the trial use of new mobile breathing equipment, which stops Charlotte from being tied to her cot.

And Charlotte's parents say they have released the new pictures to show people how much their daughter has changed since she was born.

Chef Mr Wyatt, 33, of Portsmouth, Hants, said today: "I believe it is in everyone's best interest to see how well Charlotte is doing.

"When we see the pictures that were taken just after she was born now we just think, 'That's not Charlotte'.

"She has changed so much since that time.

"Just by looking at the new pictures you can see that Charlotte is looking pretty well.

"She is doing as well as she always has done. We think she is not getting worse, she is getting better.

"She has grown and she is responding more and more.

"When she was born we were told she could see and hear, then later on we were told she couldn't see or hear.

"But she recognises our voices and is reaching out for things.

"And we want people to see how she is looking now."

Mrs Wyatt, 23, added: "We get people coming up to us and asking how Charlotte is all the time.

"We want them to see how she is doing for themselves."

Charlotte was born three months premature at St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, in October 2003, with serious brain, lung and kidney damage.

Doctors said Charlotte felt nothing but pain.

Last month (April) the couple lost their legal battle to overturn a court order allowing doctors not to resuscitate their daughter.

But they are planning to appeal against the decision because they are convinced Charlotte's health is improving.

Mr Wyatt said: "She was just the size of your hand when she was born, she was the length of a ball point pen.

"Doctors said she wouldn't even reach her first birthday but she proved them wrong then.

"Now we can take her out of her oxygen tank which feels really nice.

"The only trouble is when you take her out and hold her you don't want to put her back.

"When we hold her we can see she is getting better."

The couple, who have two sons Daniel, two, and seven month old David, are now expecting a fourth child.

They want to raise awareness of the premature baby charity Bliss and to highlight a new website dedicated to Charlotte, www.savecharlotte.com

Mr Wyatt is also hoping to organise a sponsored walk to raise money for the charity.

Charlotte was delivered by emergency Caesarian section because she was not growing properly after just 26 weeks in her mother's womb.

Medical experts from across the country who have examined Charlotte insist that her chances of surviving even one more year are barely five per cent.

Doctors say that even a small cold or runny nose could be fatal.