Valentine’s Day is set to be extra special this year for one little girl thanks to the life-changing treatment she has received at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Charlotte “Charlie” Drinkwater has a combination of complicated medical conditions that means for much of her early life she would often stop breathing and go into cardiac arrest. Charlie has undergone countless surgeries in her life, with her parents Rebecca and Andrew learning CPR to always be at the ready.

Born on Valentine’s Day in 2017 at Saint Mary’s Hospital, having already been diagnosed with spina bifida while still in the womb, she spent the first four weeks of her life in hospital before Rebecca and Andrew were able to take her home.

Unfortunately, she was back within the fortnight when she had started to suffer from respiratory distress. This was the beginning of what would be almost ten months as an inpatient at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Whilst her conditions mainly affect her respiratory system, Charlie has undergone a variety of operations including surgeries to both her spine and brain.

Following on from her most recent seven-month stay at the hospital, during which time she underwent multiple neurosurgeries, Charlie’s health has been at an all-time high. She no longer requires oxygen treatment and her condition is so stable that she no longer has to carry her resuscitation equipment at all times.

This Valentine’s Day, Charlie will turn eight and will experience her birthday at home for the first time in two years, thanks to these dramatic improvements in her health.

“Charlie has been so stable that we have very nearly reached the one-year milestone of having no unplanned admissions or surgeries. This is massive for us as a family and we’re so thankful to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for looking after her over the years,” says Rebecca.

“Although she loves everyone at the hospital, and she loves catching up with the specialists when she comes in and making everyone laugh, she’s so excited to be having a birthday at home surrounded by all of her family and friends.”

Rebecca says: “Charlie will be spending her birthday making her own birthday cake with pink EVERYTHING, swimming and going to the cinema.”

February is a significant month for parents Rebecca and Andrew too. The couple were engaged in the hospital’s High Dependency Unit (HDU) on February 22nd 2023, with the hospital now holding even more of a special place in their hearts.

Rebecca says: “On February 22nd Andrew asked me to marry him whilst we were on the High Dependency Unit with Charlie. Charlie had already been in hospital since mid-December and we had celebrated both Christmas and her birthday on HDU that year, so we were able to celebrate one more family event there too.”

Keen to give back, the family are regular fundraisers for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity – which raises crucial funds for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital – and in November Charlie was front and centre on the start line at the Charity’s sponsored Lantern Walkin Heaton Park.

Charlie completed the event in her wheelchair, cutting the starting ribbon and raising over £100 for the charity, too.

Rebecca says: “Thanks to the incredible staff at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital we’re able to enjoy the special moments with our daughter and watch her thrive. Raising money for the hospital is our, and now her, way of saying thank you to the brilliant people that have supported her in reaching milestones like this.”

Angela Rowe, Deputy Director at Manchester Foundation Trust Charity said:
“We’re so pleased to see Charlie thriving and glad to hear she will be experiencing a birthday at home for the first time in years. We’ve followed Charlie’s story since she was a baby, and her progress is a testament to the incredible care provided by our hospital staff each and every day. We’re so grateful to Charlie and her family for their dedication to fundraising over the years and we can’t wait to catch up with them again at their next event.”