Charlotte's Mum

Last summer we heard from a couple whose daughter, Charlotte, had died from an eating disorder. Charlotte’s parents – Chris and Pauline – want to support beat’s work by sharing their story.

Please read Pauline’s brave account of her wonderful daughter – and the pain of losing her.

Charlotte and her family were not aware of the beat services until it was too late. It is something which we are determined to prevent happening again.

We need your help to let more people know about our services – and make sure fewer young lives are lost to eating disorders.

Please make a donation to beat. You can do this here. We promise you, it will make a difference.

“It was the middle of August, and we were waiting for Charlotte’s A-level results – me, Charlotte’s dad and her little brother, William. Then the phone rang. It was her school. My heart was leaping as I answered it.

Charlotte had been awarded four A grades – the results she had hoped for. On that day, I felt so proud that I was – and always will be – Charlotte’s Mum.

Charlotte was always a bright, determined and caring girl. She did excellently in school, and was active in organisations such as Young Farmers and Conservative Future. Her ambition was to attend Cambridge University.

At weekends, Charlotte completed Duke of Edinburgh awards and even tried her hand at helicopter piloting. Whenever Charlotte had a spare minute, she always filled it with something exciting.

Throughout her second year of sixth form, Charlotte battled with a severe eating disorder. Suddenly, we watched our outgoing, strong-willed daughter taken over by this terrible disease.

The illness took a hold of her. She began over-exercising dangerously. We even got a worried phonecall from her gym. She started starving herself too. Sometimes she would go days without food.

We tried our best to help Charlotte. We were always there for her, to listen to her and reassure her. But it wasn’t easy. The illness was determined to take our daughter from us.

We never gave up. I remember when we took Charlotte to the hospital, her dad had to pick her up and carry her up the stairs. My beautiful daughter was too weak to climb them herself.

Inside, Charlotte was still strong. One day, as I sat next to her in the hospital, she promised me she would get better. Charlotte had gone so far in her life – and she refused to let an eating disorder stop her. But it did.

On the 8th August, Charlotte died. Her eating disorder had severely weakened her immune system. In the end, it was an unexpected bout of pneumonia which took her from us.

Charlotte died with dignity. She spent her last moments together with her family – me, her dad and William. As she lay there, we comforted her and held her hand.

Eventually, we had to let it go.”