We are delighted to announce that singer Charlotte has joined the charity as an ECHO Ambassador.
Charlotte is welcomed to the ECHO heart community just as she has released her stunning latest single “All My Life”. She wrote the song following her own personal experience when her nephew Archie was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and required heat surgery at just 6 days old.
Charlotte’s beautifully written and performed song encapsulates the feelings many family members have when their young loved one is in a vulnerable situation, and we are delighted Charlotte has chosen to support the ECHO heart community through her lyrics.
In 2018 she began working on her EP “Nowhere to Hide”, working with renowned producers Toby Gad (Beyonce ‘If I Were A Boy’) and The Orphanage who has worked with the likes of Demi Lovato and Alessia Cara.
Her new single “All My Life” was released last week and has been met with a wave of praise from Charlotte’s fans. Take a listen to the song below, or Stream or Download the track by clicking here.
We are excited to welcome Charlotte to the ECHO heart community as an ECHO Ambassador, and to work together to raise awareness of CHD.
Charlotte’s Story:
“On the 28th March 2018 my gorgeous nephew Archie was born. The first time I laid eyes on him, I was overwhelmed, I loved him like he was my own baby. Archie’s not like most children, he’s quite unique, he was born with half a heart (hypoplastic right heart syndrome). This meant he underwent open heart surgery at just 6 days old where a bt shunt was fitted. This was to be the first of 3 planned surgeries that would take place between 0-4 years of age. He did really well initially after surgery and there was talk of him coming off the ventilator the following day. During the night Archie was unwell and his oxygen levels dropped dangerously low. His surgeon was called and he was rushed down to theatre where they found a blood clot in the shunt in his heart. I was out with friends on a Saturday night when I got a call from my Dad letting me know that things weren’t looking great. I got straight in a taxi home.
I didn’t think I’d ever be able to put into words how much I wanted to be able to stop time, rush to his side and wave a magic wand to make everything better. Not just for him but for my brother and his wife. I love them all so much it hurts and seeing them go through such emotional torture was horrible, I can’t even begin to imagine how they felt. I had a writing session on the Monday that I was very close to cancelling but something told me I needed to write to help process everything that had happened. That’s when All My Life was born.
Every single world is for my nephew and I hope when he’s old enough to understand it will let him know how much he’s loved. Archie pulled through the night thanks to the incredible staff at Evelina and thanks to his immense strength and determination. He stayed in intensive care for 2 weeks fighting infections and getting some much needed rest. After 5 further weeks in hospital he was able to go home. An incredible charity called ECHO have been such an immense support to my brother, his wife and to Archie. Both antenatally and postnatally helping them prepare for having a child with a heart condition, supporting them emotionally and connecting them with other families so they don’t have to go through this alone.
I’m so grateful to them for everything they’ve done and continue to do and want to do everything I can to help raise awareness and money so they can continue to help other families like Archie’s. I am so proud to announce that I am now an ambassador for ECHO and I am so excited to work with them. We’ve got ace plans to fundraise and raise awareness together and I would appreciate it BEYOND words if you guys would get involved. I’ll update you guys as and when, can’t wait to give something back!”
Charlotte’s song ‘All My Life’ is beautiful and we are honoured she has chosen to support ECHO by joining the charity as an Ambassador, and by speaking about her own personal experience with her nephew through the song’s lyrics. I am excited to work with Charlotte going forward to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Disease, and continue in ECHO’s mission to be there for families just like Charlotte’s at every stage of their heart journey.
Samantha Johnson - Chief Executive, ECHO
At ECHO, we know that discovering your child has a potentially life threatening heart condition is one of the hardest things any parent can hear. Many families find it difficult to cope and welcome additional support, which is why ECHO exists.
ECHO supports children and young people with heart conditions and their families, who have been treated by the Evelina London Children’s Hospital networks. ECHO provides support from the moment of diagnosis, throughout any treatment and care pathway or bereavement, and are there for the whole family at every stage of their heart journey.
ECHO connects the children’s heart community by bringing together children and young people with heart conditions, their families and medical professionals. It is a community of shared experience and understanding.
At ECHO we don’t receive any funding from the NHS or government, so rely on public generosity to continue our work. By giving to ECHO you can help us to be there for more families like Archie and Charlotte’s, at times of need.