#charliefightsback

Charlie is a popular, caring, easy-going 14-year-old. He loves spending time with his friends, playing for Bognor Rugby Club's under 15's, eating cheese toasties and playing his XBox.

On 9th December 2023, following a short period of being unwell with a cold and headaches, my lovely nephew was sedated and blue lighted to Southampton hospital. There were serious concerns as he was showing signs of a brain infection. Charlie was assessed and diagnosed with sinusitis that had travelled to his brain. The following morning Charlie was taken into surgery where neuro and ear, nose and throat surgeons were to clear the infection in a four-hour operation. As a family we were already in shock as Charlie’s Mum, my sister Gemma, had been rushed into surgery at St Richards Hospital just 7 days earlier to remove a large tumour from her bowel, which had been discovered when she had been taken ill with stomach pains.

As Gemma was stuck in St Richard’s, I was with Charlie's Dad, Steve, during the operation. Time went on and on, and around seven hours later, three surgeons walked into the waiting room and uttered the words we'll never forget...This could take Charlie's life. Charlie had suffered some bleeds to his brain during surgery and was put into an induced coma.

Charlie spent three weeks in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. During that time his mum came out of hospital to finally be by his side, and she, his dad and sister, Mollie, made Ronald McDonald House their home to be close to Charlie. They will be living there for the foreseeable. We also received the news that Gem's tumour had been cancerous, and a three-month course of chemotherapy would be needed.

As the sedation was reduced, Charlie reached some significant turning points, the first squeeze of a finger, the wriggle of a toe, his eyes opening, and he was eventually taken off his ventilator and was breathing by himself. Finally, some causes for celebration, Charlie was out of the woods and no longer critical. He spent a couple of days on the high-dependency ward and started the new year on the children's Neuro-surgical ward, where he remains today.

Charlie has had a permanent drain fitted to reduce and control the swelling to his brain. He is waiting for an operation to fit a titanium plate, replacing the large part of his skull that was removed but couldn't be saved. He has regained the use of his left side, but not his right, and remains unable to speak. He works hard daily with the physio, speech & language, occupational therapy and hospital school teams. He has been able to start eating over the past few weeks and his appetite is coming along nicely, allowing his feeding tube to be removed. Despite having down days, coming to terms with this huge change to his life, Charlie hasn't lost his sense of humour and keeps everyone entertained with his cheeky antics. Mostly conveyed by a look or a rude hand gesture, which has become his standard greeting. We are so, so proud of him.

Unfortunately, we don't know what the future holds for our Charlie in terms of how far his recovery will take him. What we do know is that he will need a substantial amount of help on that journey and won't be able to return to the family home during this long rehabilitation process. Being a maisonette above a shop, externally, it is impossible to reach the front door with a wheelchair, internally the layout is set over 2 floors with no space to manoeuvre a wheelchair, no space for any physio, etc. The family housing needs are currently in the hands of the Council as there are not only difficulties surrounding selling their property due to huge building work issues, which to date have cost tens of thousands, but there are complications surrounding Gem’s diagnosis and re-mortgaging.

Myself and our family have been asked about fundraising by lots of family and friend. The difficulty at this point is having no specific goal in mind for specialist equipment etc, however, we know that this will be greatly appreciated in the months or years to come. This could help support the family when their income changes due to becoming carers, assist in the costs of relocating, funding equipment needs, private physiotherapists, the list is endless, but this will all give Charlie the best chance of maximising his recovery, whilst, in time, helping him to be as independent as he possibly can be.

Charlie comes from the most amazing, loving family who care for and support each other, and who have always supported friends and family in need. Just like anyone else finding themselves in similar situations, they never expected to be the people needing that help and support in return.

We will be eternity grateful for any contributions to enable us to give Charlie the best chance of the fullest recovery he can achieve, and the best life we can possibly give him.

In the meantime, we will remember the other words those surgeons spoke on that terrible day…He could make a full recovery. We will continue to hope but remain thankful that our Charlie is here with us, in whatever new, lovely and forever changing version of himself.

Words can’t express our gratitude for the care and support of the teams at Southampton for saving Charlie's life and his ongoing care, to the Ronald McDonald House charity whose support is just amazing, and to St Richards Hospital for the care of Charlie's mum.

Gem has started her chemo and we know she will endure it with her usual strength, grit and determination ❤️

Any funds raised and not required will be donated to the Ronald McDonald house charity.