Celebrate Charl’s 40th B’day for The Christie NHS

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of THE CHRISTIE CHARITABLE FUND and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

My name is Charlotte Ward, I am a single Mum to my ten year old daughter,
Isabella, crazy but very cute dog, Elsa       and a breast care nurse for the NHS.
I am 39 years old & will be celebrating
my 40th birthday in a matter of weeks,
which is why I’m calling on your
generosity. 

After battling mystery pains for many
years & been told I would struggle to
conceive naturally, in 2009 I discovered I was pregnant.

Seven weeks into my
pregnancy a mass was discovered on my right ovary. By the time I was 20 weeks
pregnant, it had doubled, needing
surgery to remove the mass, ovary &
fallopian tube on the affected side.

Scary times to say the least & little did I
know then, that, that  was the start of a
very turbulent 10 years.

Surgery results were borderline,
however following the safe & amazing
arrival of Isabella, a scan revealed
further spread, only 8 weeks after her
arrival.
My whole abdomen was affected
including, left ovary, liver & stomach.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian
cancer. I was admitted for a total
hysterectomy aged 29.  It was during this surgery, the surgeon noticed my
appendix was abnormal also,
so this removed at the same time.

Three weeks later, my diagnosis had
changed. Instead of ovarian cancer, I was diagnosed with a very rare, appendix
cancer, Pseudomyxoma Peritionei,
affecting only 1 in 1.7 million people.  

Treatment for this disease is the highly
specialised, Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC, which can last up to 12 hours
plus & is referred to, as the ‘mother of all
surgeries’. It is only performed at two
centres in the UK, The Christie NHS,
Manchester being one of them. 

It is only thanks to this amazing NHS
hospital & it’s staff, offering the highest
standards of care & treatment,
supported by extensive  research, that I
get to celebrate my 40th birthday.

Sadly the charity ball, I had arranged for
September has had to be cancelled due
to the current Covid 19. I am therefore
relying on the power of online
fundraising & the generosity of the
public, to the raise funds for this
incredible centre which invests so much
time & money into treatments & 
research, all with hope that cures can be found & patient outcomes improved.

Whilst been very unlucky to have been
diagnosed with this rare disease, I feel
very fortunate to have the input &
expertise of, The Christie NHS on board & be here today, celebrating my 10 year  survival & 40th birthday, even though I
now cherish each & every birthday & day of the year. 

In the last ten years The Christie NHS        has saved my life four times, offering me the gruelling Cytoreductive Surgery withHIPEC, for as many recurrences, with thelatest one, only 4 months ago. 

I really hope as many of you as possible
can contribute to this incredible cause to help show my appreciation for all
they have done, allowing me the blessing of been able to see Isabella grow up & all they continue to do, not just for me, but   for others too & our future generations. 

So here is a HUGE, heartfelt thank you,
from the deepest depth of mine & my families hearts, to, The Christie NHS & to
all of you in advance for your generous
donations.

You have already made my 40th
birthday!

With love & gratitude,

Charlotte