In the summer of 2019, Charlotte and David took a leap of faith.
After failed heartbreaking rounds of IVF treatment elsewhere, they made a hopeful but uncertain switch to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.
There, they found not only clinical excellence but a compassionate team that made them feel truly seen and supported.
Fast forward seven years, Charlotte and David are now proud parents to two beautiful boys, Ted and Angus.
This September, Charlotte will be running the Great North Run in support of the IVF unit at the QE, determined to raise vital funds so that more families can experience the same life-changing care.
This is a story of hope, never giving up, and how a little bit of kindness goes a long way – told through the eyes of both the dedicated professionals who nurture every patient’s journey and the inspiring mother now running to give back.
This is Charlotte’s story.
I just felt such hope to be with a team that clearly cared. This wasn’t research and procedures, this was genuine care and treatment.
“We moved our care to the QE in June 2019 after a couple of heartbreaking rounds at a different centre and some very good advice from friends who had been successful there. I was emotionally very low and felt little warmth from our previous centre, and at the time it felt like a gamble as you are so aware and conscious of time moving when going through IVF.
“Dave works on facts and information, I work on emotions and strong relationships and the second we met the QE team we both felt a change. I remember Dave saying he’d learned more from our initial meeting than he had the previous two rounds of IVF. I just felt such hope to be with a team that clearly cared. This wasn’t research and procedures, this was genuine care and treatment.
“Every single member of the team that we met, regardless of the extent of the interaction, were so kind and you just felt the force of how much they wanted to help you. For me this just helped my mindset, and made the whole process such a different experience to what had happened previously.”
When Charlotte and David welcomed their first son, Ted, into the world in 2019, there were no doubts who they wanted to share the news with first.
“After a nervous pregnancy and giving birth mid lockdown, the QE were one of the first people we wanted to tell. The news was again greeted with such genuine joy from their end and I will never be able to thank them enough.
“Alongside Ted, we were fortunate enough to achieve three frozen embryos. After returning in 2022, I am now lucky enough to be sat here with two gorgeous boys, all due to their care and expertise.”
For other parents who are considering going through IVF, Charlotte encouraged them to check out the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, revealing what separates the QE apart from other hospitals.
“I think the focus on individual care and the treatment they offer, we never felt rushed or as though staffs’ time was limited. They listen and offer support every step of the way.
“We have the family we so desperately wished for. It’s easy to only focus on the positive. However, I do know that to get here was a hard few years and I will forever be grateful for the QE supporting me through that time.”
Looking ahead to September, Charlotte is incredibly excited to participate in the Great North Run, an event well known for its electric atmosphere and inclusive community spirit. “The Great North run day is always one of my favourite days of the year.
“I love the sense of community and love that fills the city. It will be nice to raise awareness of the magic of the QE.”
Get behind Charlotte and the RVI unit today and show your support with a donation!
Support CharlotteBehind Charlotte’s story stands a dedicated team whose commitment to their patients is unparalleled.
Sophia Jewitt, Laboratory Manager & Senior Clinical Embryologist, has been part of that journey for over 25 years, and her words reveal why the care feels so deeply personal.
“I’ve worked here since 1999. My whole career has been up here and I’ve seen it grow from a tiny unit on maternity with four members of staff, where we only treated 60 couples a year to now being a really good unit in the North East providing care for our local community.
“We’ve really reached out to different groups of patients. Lots of people want to become parents and have that opportunity of having a family, so this unit has changed a lot. It’s always challenging, it’s exciting because it’s changing all the time. From the patients we treat to the types of treatments we can offer, and the situations we are faced with.
“It means a lot because you invest a lot of yourself in the unit and I know all the staff here feel the same as I do. We go that extra mile to make sure a patient feels really cared for and supported when they come here.
Gateshead Health Charity has played a small part in improving patient care and enhancing the healthcare environment within the unit, providing charitable funding across a number of different areas. “It’s been invaluable as an educational resource, especially for the healthcare scientists”, said Sophie.
“There’s no CPD funding in the trust for scientists and this is a very specialised area of healthcare, so we can’t learn what we need to without attending training events or conferences.
“We’ve also used the funds to enhance the patient experience as they go through their fertility journey because it can be quite a difficult challenge for patients who have to visit our unit. Sometimes it can be the little things, like the trays patients have their tea and toast on after surgery, through to improving our reception area, and making that a little more private for patients that’s away from the clinical area and trying to make it more supportive there.”
With the Great North Run on the horizon, Sophia revealed just what it means to the IVF staff to have several runners fundraising for the unit. “It’s absolutely amazing that they want to do this for us and give something back.
“I think it’s to try and enhance things within the unit. I also think it’s to try and give back to other patients that are coming through after them and try and help smooth their journey, and make sure they are going to receive top quality care as well. It’s a real testament to the fact that they feel they want to do this, not just for the unit but for patients who were in the same position as they were.”
