Grateful teenage patient helps out RVI hospital

Oct 26 2009 by David Black, The Journal

“I handed the money over to my consultant at the RVI and he was over the moon. I really hope it will do a lot of good for the cancer ward and for research into medulloblastoma.”

Charlotte began having severe headaches, dizzy spells and vomiting episodes in 2007, but doctors put the problems down to hormonal issues or a virus. Her parents were not happy, and after several visits to the GPs’ surgery, they said they would like a second opinion.

The following morning – in August 2007 – Charlotte was again sick and in pain so they took her immediately to the accident and emergency department at Newcastle General Hospital. An MRI scan revealed she had a medulloblastoma, and within 24 hours she was operated on to remove it.

Charlotte, a student at Ponteland High School, underwent months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy before a follow-up scan last November gave her the all-clear. The charity auction night included lots such as golf days, hairdressing sessions and restaurant vouchers, many of them donated by local businesses.

She added: “The hospital staff were lovely and really helpful during my treatment and I am so grateful for what they did. I wanted to raise funds for them and my mum suggested an auction evening.”