South Shields seven-year-old who had ‘no chance of survival’ is taking on the Mini Great North Run
A seven-year-old from South Shields, who was not expected to survive when she was born at 23 weeks, is taking on her own fundraising challenge this Great North Run weekend.
A South Shields seven-year-old is taking on a Great North Run event to give back to the charity that helped her family when she was born at 23 weeks.
Doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), in Newcastle, did not expect Charlotte Smith to survive her first night after her mum, Adele Smith, 43, went into labour following a ruptured membrane.
Medical staff took five hours to stabilise her after she was born and Charlotte spent months in neonatal care before finally coming home.
Having now grown into a thriving seven-year-old, Charlotte will be taking on the Mini Great North Run on Saturday, September 12, to raise money for Tiny Lives, the charity that supported the neonatal unit which cared for her.
‘It felt like we were sat waiting for her to die’
Speaking to the Shields Gazette, Adele has reflected on what it was like for her and Charlotte’s dad, Jonathan Smith, in the weeks after she gave birth to their daughter.
The mum-of-two said: “When she was born, they pretty much said that she had ‘no chance’ so we got her christened within hours but she just kept fighting on.
“We met Tiny Lives the next day and they were brilliant - if it hadn’t been for them, I don’t know how we’d have got through it.
“It was just horrible and it felt like we were sat waiting for her to die.
“We were told to take it hour-by-hour, which went on for weeks but then it got to the point where it was day-by-day and now it doesn’t even feel like it was real - it was just awful.
“I remember when they told us we could go home, I don’t think we’ve ever moved so fast in packing stuff up to leave that hospital before someone changed their minds.”
‘We can’t thank everyone enough at Tiny Lives’
Adele has also given an insight into how much it means to the family to be able to give back to Tiny Lives and help other families through the charity.
She added: “My nieces do the Mini Great North Run every year and Charlotte has always wanted to do it so I just thought why not, so her and her dad are doing it.
“She was really looking forward to it and now she is asking if she has to run really far but she will have plenty of fun on the day, she is more excited for getting a medal at the end.
“The fact that we can help other families through Tiny Lives with whatever money we can raise means everything because it is just horrible.
“It always sticks in my head that there are so many people who are pregnant right now and in a couple of weeks, they could be in that same situation.
“There are other neonatal units around the country who have no support so the fact that we’ve got Tiny Lives in the North East is amazing - it should be in every hospital.
“Our initial target was £300 and we hit that so the fundraiser has put it up to £400 and we’re now approaching that, so it is great.
“In my head, anything over that £300 is a massive bonus - we’re buzzing.
“We can’t thank everyone enough at Tiny Lives for helping us.”
You can view and donate to Charlotte’s fundraiser online at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/from-23-weeks-to-7-years-help-us-give-back-to-tiny-lives.