A Short Biography
– last updated spring 2005—
Charlotte Paige Wyatt was born after an emergency caesareans at 26 weeks, three months early on the 21’st of October 2003 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Porstmouth, England.
At birth she weighed only 458 grams, and was barely five inches long. She was immediately put in an incubator, and it was three months time before Darren and Debbie were able to hold her.
But Charlotte improved excellently, and by July of 2004 she was eating from a spoon, and required hardly any oxygen. At this time, she could see and hear without any problem.
St. Mary’s hospital then decided that it was time to move Charlotte out of the intensive care unit, and into the children’s ward. Almost immediately, she got a blood infection, and started needing more and more oxygen. Then the day came when her parents were rung up and told that Charlotte’s lungs had collapsed, and she had been put on a ventilator.
Thrice Charlotte was put on a ventilator, leaving her in September needing an oxygen level of 100%. The doctors at Portsmouth then decided that she would never recover, she would be always blnd and deaf, in constant pain, and unable to communicate for the rest of her life. They urged Mr. Justice Hedley to allow them not to care for her if she would need to be ventilated again. Her parents felt she was a fighter and should be given every chance, and they pleaded for her right to life, but the medical establishment was all on the other side. The Judge decided in favour of the hospital.
After the Judge decided that she did not have to receive aggressive care, most Doctors thought that Charlotte would die within few months– during the winter, from another infection– but she did not die, and instead prospered. Slowly, slowly she started getting better. She started being able to respond to her parents again, to laugh, to cry, to smile, and now she can see and hear. She also has started to be able to take food by mouth again, when they place small amounts on her lower lip. Her lungs have grown stronger, and now she needs only 45%, instead of the 100% she had needed last autumn.
In the middle of March, her parents went again to the Judge, and asked him to rescind his order, telling him that their daughter was no longer in constant pain, and was no longer unable to respond. The Judge “was pleased” with Charlotte’s improvements, but listened to the hospital, which said that they were not good enough to warrant resuscitation if she got sick again. He did however say that he would hear them again after Easter.
On 21 April, the Judge again decided against removing the Do Not Resucitate (DNR) order from Charlotte, a decision her parents will appeal to the Appeals Court, and, if necessary, the European Court.
Many times Charlotte’s parents have asked for her medical records, and their attorney has also, but so far to no avail. The hospital, defensive after being shown wrong in so much of what they said, is unwilling to give any information that might show how they have failed.
But Charlotte is still fighting for life, though her case in the English Judiciary does not look hopeful.
This girl is Angel! Wish you always Best!
Comment by w.y. — 31 October, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
a beautiful and delicate (not fragile) life changing our way of thinking about .. life itself.
it’s the power of the human will, that comes right from birth (:
Comment by silvino — 1 November, 2006 @ 4:57 pm
Charlotte is a living example of spirit and strengh and so are her parents.
Greetings from Spain for those who believe in life!!
Comment by Pablo. Salamanca (Spain) — 7 November, 2006 @ 12:37 pm
Of course I hope the little girl will survive.
What I don’t understand is that a hospital decides not to give the medical attention to someone as young as she is when it is so weak and might die. Wish you good luck in court.
Comment by Jan — 11 November, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
I have asked St. Pio for his intersession…If it is God’s will…it will be done!
God Bless your daughter Charlotte
Comment by Madeline Pera — 13 November, 2006 @ 7:26 pm
Your story hit home for me. My daughter was born at 23 weeks and has suffered much of the same your little girl must have. We will pray for strength for your family as you continue to fight for Charlotte’s life. She is valuable in God’s eyes!
Comment by Patty Hull — 1 December, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
Dear Wyatt Family,
As you already know, life is very precious.
My daughter’s fifth grade teacher was born
three months premature with complications,
back in 1967. She spent a long while in an
incubator in ICU (with loving care). Now she
is a beautiful, intelligent, very healthy, 39
year-old woman, who is an excellent teacher!
God bless you greatly, and praying you will ALL (mom & dad, too) be reunited as a family
once again! In Jesus’ glorious name!!! Amen!
Comment by Susan Sturch, Colorado — 21 December, 2006 @ 6:41 am
sorry to hear about the way the hospital and other people have treated you and your daughter. but the LIFE of charlotte will never be forgotton as college students are now doing case studies in to how human rights and the rights of every individual have been affected by the case of your doughter.
i hope she dose well and brightens up the life she has.
always caring now and always.
Comment by justin jackson — 15 January, 2007 @ 11:06 am
i really hope that your beautiful baby girl keeps going strong so my fingers are crossed and i am hoping that soon she won’t need ANY oxygen at all because she will be better all my hope and love xxx
Comment by charlotte — 10 March, 2007 @ 10:05 am
Firstly I wish to send strength, hope and support to Charlotte and her family and praise for the resilience and determination you have shown during the most demanding of times.
As a law student and future barrister I feel that the way both Charlotte and her family have been treated by the courts is a disgrace. Put simply, WHY ARE THE COURTS INTERFERING!?
If loving parents wish for their child to be kept aline then who is a judge to order differently? Charlotte may never lead her life in the same way as other children, but that does not mean that her life is worth any less. Life is an invaluable gift and it is not for the court to decide that the prolonging of life is not worthwhile, especially when a parent as devoted and caring as Darren arues to the contrary.
I wish you and Charlotte all the best, please keep me updated with both yours and Charlotte’s progress. Your pictures prove that Charlotte is a beautiful little girl, to claim that her life should not be prolonged is anathema to any spciety that claims to value human life.
Best Wishes,
Ross xx
Comment by Ross David Talbott — 18 May, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
Law students at North Devon College wish you and Charlotte good luck. Keep fighting!!
Comment by Shaun Harbord — 19 June, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Keep fighting little Charlotte! You will prove your haters wrong! God bless you and your parents
Comment by Andrey — 21 June, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
I have tried many times, and many avenues to get this prayer across. (Last forwarded Oct. of 04′) To no avail. Praise God for this forum. Here is the prayer I wish for Charlotte’s parents, and all who see to be of one accord upon it’s recital;
{ Father today we step boldly into your throne room
and pray in the name of The Lord Christ Jesus, and of
the Holy Spirit. Lord your Word tells us that you are
a help in our time of need. We know that it is your
will that none would suffer. Father we thank you for
the miraculous healing of little baby Charlotte. Lord
you said yourself in MATTHEW 18:19 That if two of you
shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father
which is in heaven. So father today more than two
agree that you will heal your little baby Charlotte
with a profound miracle, and swiftly so, in Jesus
name. In all things not our will but the will of the
Father be done, that It may glorify The Lord AMEN.
Tell them to pray this and lay hands on her as
they do so. This prayer comes with power from on high.
do not disregard it. I urge everyone who reads this
not to take it lightly, and to pray it also and to
believe. }
Comment by Montgomery Reyna — 1 July, 2007 @ 6:49 am
you little girl is apsolutly beautiful and has shown herself to be one of lifes fighters
my daughter was a 25 week prem and had numerous complications after going home at 15 weeks, she was admitted to childrens where i was told she wouldnt last the week, but with a wonderful consultant who was of the opinion to try everything possible my daughter pulled through after 10 months came home to me and is progressing well.
i hope thinks continue to go from strength to strength and things go well for you in the courts.
will keep you in our thoughts and prayers
Comment by claire mohamed — 25 July, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Since the first time Charlotte’s plight made the headlines I have prayed for her daily and have spoken about her at church and asked others to pray for her. The words of John 14:14 are constantly in my mind when I pray. Jesus Himself says “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” It is comforting for Charlotte, her parents and brothers and sister to know that many throughout the world are praying to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ for her well-being, and that the Father is listening to us all and preserving Charlotte’s little life.
It is amazing that she will be four years old on 21 October. Surely divine intervention, and proving the doctor’s and courts have no right to interfere in God’s plan for Charlotte.
Let us all continue to pray for Charlotte and her family in the name of Jesus christ the Saviour. God Bless.
Comment by Michael Griffiths — 18 October, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Happy Birthday to Charlotte for tomorrow - FOUR years old -oh my!
And do doctors still think that they are always right?
Comment by pat — 20 October, 2007 @ 6:49 pm