Last year Charlotte and her family were involved in a car accident which has left them all with life changing injuries. The family are now struggling as they‘re currently unable to work and bring in an income. With christmas approaching and a wedding to plan the family really need some help. Please read Charlotte’s story below and donate anything you can, their whole life changed over night, every small amount helps.

‘Last year at 4.25pm, on 29th November, after coming back from my graduation ceremony, our car was hit by a lorry that was on the wrong side of the road. Jak got out of the car and tried to save my life but collapsed, screaming in agony. We were very lucky that a paramedic was in the car behind us. The fire service cut the rest of us out and we were taken to Royal Preston.

Jak suffered unbelievably for weeks. At one point in intensive care, battling severe sepsis that had taken over the majority of his small bowel. Can anyone imagine how it feels as a parent/grandparent to be told your boy has 'a 50/50 chance of making it through the night and to prepare yourselves?'

My mum and dad have suffered beyond belief. My dad had a bleed on his brain and a broken spine. His back still hasn't healed. The gear stick of the car went into my mums hip and she broke her femur, she's had plastic surgery on her arm and due to her injuries she suffered a double stroke. At first she didn't recognise her own son. I have communicated with carers, cleaners, legal representatives, consultants, financial advisors, the stroke team and others, all on their behalf. They get very upset and confused, the affects of a brain injury are huge. I CONTINUE to support them daily.

The judge recognised the severity of my injuries on that night, with the DEFENCE stating this is one of the most tragic and unbelievable cases he's ever took part in. I arrived at Preston a&e 12 months ago. I signed an 'x' in a box and a woman told me 'they would do everything they could' to save me before I was thrust into a 13 hour surgery. My consultant and the intensive care team said they had never seen anyone's abdomen as bad in 25 years of the job, with 8 abdominal tubes draining blood, bile and a chest drain in my good lung breathing for me. My organs shifted to the left side and my rib fractures caused me to lose some of them. A damaged artery found by my consultant was cutting off circulation to my bowel- 1mm more damage and I would have died at the scene. These were only some of my life changing injuries and I was in a coma in intensive care for 2 weeks. The first words from my consultant to my brother were 'we've done everything we can', he thought I was dead. The day after being moved to major trauma ward, I was taken for back surgery. I have six metal rods holding my spine up. Never have I felt agony like it and still to this day the agony continues. I lost my spleen, meaning I'm now on antibiotics for life, my left lung was punctured and collapsed- the scar tissue meaning it doesn't function as it did, I lost a large amount of my small intestine and the right side of my whole colon, my kidneys are struggling because of all the meds used to keep me alive- it can take up to 40 minutes some mornings to push out a wee the majority containing blood, and I'm facing more back surgery which always runs the risk of paralysis. I've battled sepsis for 5 weeks in Royal Blackburn and just undertaken more major abdominal surgery at Preston. Currently still in a wheelchair.

Psychologically I struggle most days. I watch my family suffer. Still can't get in the bath and have a wash, or go out and see my friends due to infection risk. 31 six year olds lost their teacher that day. I'm still unable to return to work, still unable to bend down and wash my own hair. There have been times where I've been in so much pain or vomiting, I told my nurses to 'just let me die'. I've had 26 hours of therapy, still ongoing, where I've said 'I don't want to live like this anymore'. We all suffer with PTSD. I don't sleep and night I have nightmares and flashbacks about the crash and the hospital. I have anxiety over what else life has to throw at me as all four of us still face major surgeries.

This is not the life we want to LIVE but we continue to SURVIVE.’