Told she would never have children, Charlene Ainsworth, 37, was urged to terminate her pregnancy due to a number of serious health conditions
Charlene ‘Charlie’ Ainsworth, 37, and her seven-year-old son Elijah
A woman who always dreamed of having children but was told she couldn’t, defied the advice from doctors to bring her young son into the world. Tragically, however, she has now been told she has just days to live.
Belinda Ainsworth said her daughter, Charlene, 37, known as Charlie by her family and friends, has struggled with her health since she was a child.
Belinda, 59, from Accrington, told the M.E.N: “When she was eight, she was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. Within 12 months, she became an insulin-dependent diabetic.”
From the age of 16, Belinda said her daughter managed her condition, adding: “She was told she would never have children. So it was something she thought was never going to happen.”
Charlie, who also lives in Accrington, has spent her life in and out of hospital and managed to control her health problems with medication. However, a new health concern came in 2016 when Charlie was diagnosed with skin cancer.
Despite her other ongoing health problems and what doctors had previously told her, she still dreamt of becoming a mum one day.
In 2017, she received the news she had always wanted—she was pregnant. Charlie was overjoyed, but because of her ongoing health concerns, she made an appointment with her kidney specialist.
It was during the appointment that Charlie was given a terrible decision to make. “He basically turned around and said you need to abort this baby because it’s not going to end well,” Belinda said.
“I said, is my daughter’s life in danger? He said not right now, but it will be.
“When we found out, I said, ‘Look, you’ve got to remember you’re my little girl. Even though you’re in your thirties, you’re still my little girl.’
“She said, ‘Mum, I never thought I could have a baby, so I’ve got to try.'”
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Despite being ill and going against medical advice, Charlie decided to continue with her pregnancy. Her baby son, Elijah, was born prematurely at 28 weeks in October 2017.
Belinda said: “Elijah was absolutely fine, it was Charlie. She had that much water retention that her kidneys were failing desperately.”
Following the birth of her son, Charlie was placed on dialysis three times a week.
“She was put on the transplant list, but they said they couldn’t just give her a new kidney,” Belinda said.
Elijah was born premature at 28 weeks and four days
“Because if they give her a new kidney the pancreas would then attack the new kidney. So she had to go on the list for a double transplant kidney and pancreas.”
But there was a further complication. As Charlie was living with cancer as well as kidney failure, Belinda said that surgeons were reluctant to operate. However, it was the kidney specialist who had initially suggested Charlie terminate her pregnancy, who “fought tooth and nail” to find out if the procedure would even be possible.
Eventually, one surgeon from the Manchester Royal Infirmary agreed to perform the double transplant operation once a suitable donor became available.
Elijah continued to thrive as his mum waited for a suitable match. After seven calls from prospective donors over the intervening years, a perfect donor was eventually found, and Charlie went into surgery to receive her kidney and pancreas transplant.
Charlene ‘Charlie’ Ainsworth, 37, and her seven-year-old son Elijah
For six weeks following the surgery, Charlie seemed to be on the cusp of a new life. They were then told the donated kidney had started to fail. Doctors put her back on insulin and on medication to stop her body from rejecting the new organ.
However, in December 2023, worse news was to come. Doctors discovered that Charlie’s cancer had returned and had spread to her hip and lungs.
Charlie continued to fight, undergoing chemotherapy and several rounds of radiotherapy as doctors gave her between one and five years to live.
Sadly, despite her best efforts, Charlie’s condition continued to deteriorate, with the cancer spreading further to her stomach and brain, and she is now under end-of-life care.
“On Monday, the palliative care team came to see me and told me she had days to live,” Belinda said.
‘She’s not ready to leave her little boy’
Belinda has since moved in with Charlie and her son to look after her. She said her daughter has now lost the use of the left side of her body and has been drifting in and out of consciousness.
Charlie has now been placed on end-of-life care
However, in the last week, she has been put on steroid medications, which have helped to give her more clarity and energy.
“She can hold a conversation now, which she couldn’t do during the week,” Belinda said. “I spoke to the palliative nurse yesterday and said, ‘Is she getting better?’
“She said, ‘No, just make sure you enjoy every day that you have.'”
When asked how Charlie is coping, Belinda answered with the “sheer determination that this isn’t it.”
She added: “We always say when she gets poorly, it’s just a little blip, we’ll get through it. She’s got the determination of an ox. She’s not ready to leave her little boy.”
“Me and you together forever. I love you mummy xxxx”
As for Elijah, Belinda says he is doing okay and that he has become used to his mum being in hospital and returning home throughout his life. Despite Charlie and Elijah’s dad no longer being together, Belinda says he continues to be part of his son’s life.
Belinda added: “Because she’s so tired all the time, they snuggle in and at night time he always says, ‘you and me forever, mummy.'”
Charlie’s family has set up a JustGiving page to help with costs and Elijah’s future.
You can find out more about the fundraiser and donate by clicking here.