Charlotte spent all but two weeks of her life in hospital after being born with a long list of medical conditions at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear.
Image: Submitted)
Two parents have told of their agony at losing their baby girl, a year after she died of heart problems.
It was a year to the day baby Charlotte passed away her parents still face unimaginable anguish and feel achingly incomplete without their “cheeky” princess.
“It will get easier” are words Chris Ryan and Lisa Hopkins have heard countless times since they lost their “beautiful” baby girl.
Charlotte spent all but two weeks of her life in hospital after being born with a long list of medical conditions at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear.
She had a hole in her heart and a blockage of the blood flow through the heart.
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Image:
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Submitted)
Her spleen also did not function properly leading her to be particularly susceptible to infections.
Charlotte had four surgeries in her short nine-month life, including one which was unsuccessful in fixing a heart valve.
Despite battling adversity, she was “always smiling” and touched the hearts of everyone who knew her.
On August 16 last year, the brave girl had no fight left and her heart suddenly stopped beating.
Her mum, dad and older brother Mark, five, continue to clutch her blanket and are still struggling to come to terms with their loss on the one-year anniversary of her passing.
Chris, 36, told ChronicleLive : “It’s been so hard. Everything you do there is one person missing.
“It’s still not really hit home. Some days I really struggle to accept it. We just want her back.
“We’ve spoken about burying Charlotte’s ashes but it’s hard to let her go. I don’t think I will ever be ready.
“We’re still trying to figure out how to move on. Sometimes just getting up can be a struggle.
“Mark is starting to realise Charlotte is not here anymore. He’s been crying in school and when the teachers have asked why he’s said he’s lost his baby sister.
“People say it gets easier as time goes on but it’s hard when you’ve loved your little girl for nine months and all of a sudden she’s not here anymore.
“You can’t just return to normal.”
The family had to wait a long three and a half months to take Charlotte back to their home in Gateshead so they could be together at last.
But her homecoming was cut short after she caught a cold and was readmitted to hospital just two weeks later.
Chris and Lisa say they are grateful for that precious fortnight which allowed them to feel like a “normal” family.
“When Charlotte was at home it felt like we were complete,” Lisa said.
“She always big smile on her face. She had the most beautiful blue eyes and was always a happy baby.
“She’s had such an impact on people’s lives, even the medical staff in hospital. Charlotte was so well loved and touched the hearts of everyone she met.
“The odd days I just cry clutching her blanket. I look at pictures and videos of her and I wonder what she would be up to. She’d probably be walking now and be saying a few words.
“I find it hard when I’m in Tesco and walking past the baby clothes that I would have loved for Charlotte.”
The family have recently moved to Coventry to be close to Lisa’s family with plans to create a memorial for Charlotte in their new home.
Family and friends are gathering for a picnic on Monday in memory of Charlotte before releasing balloons at 6.25pm, the time she died.
Chris said: “It’s a chance for us to share memories and tell stories about Charlotte. We’re taking her ashes and blanket so she’s there with us.
“A lot of Lisa’s family didn’t get the chance to meet Charlotte because of the Covid pandemic.
“Not many people talk to us about Charlotte because they don’t want to upset us.
“But she’s always in our minds and we love talking about her. We miss her so much and she will never be forgotten.