Reality TV personality Charlotte Chilton, known for appearing on the hit BBC show The Traitors, has opened up about her profound fear that her infant daughter will not remember her, as she prepares to undergo major neurosurgery.
Facing 'The Hardest Year' and Major Surgery
Chilton was rushed to hospital after suffering what she described as a 'huge' attack of trigeminal neuralgia, a severe facial pain condition. The situation escalated, leading to a concussion after she passed out from the pain and sustained a head injury.
Doctors have now informed her that she requires a microvascular decompression (MVD) craniotomy, a significant operation intended to provide a long-term solution by relieving pressure on the affected nerve. The procedure means she will remain in hospital until it is performed, potentially causing her to miss her daughter Penelope's second Christmas.
'The thought of going under the knife is terrifying. It's a lot to deal with,' Charlotte confessed to The Sun. 'Honestly, I feel broken. I'm in a lot of pain, and with all that's happened recently, it can all get a bit much.'
'I'm Terrified She'll Forget Me'
Her deepest anxiety surrounds her separation from her baby girl, Penelope, known affectionately as Penny. 'Mentally preparing for brain surgery is hard, and this week has been nothing short of torture, especially being separated from Penny,' she shared. 'I'm terrified she'll forget me.'
Despite the physical and emotional toll, the star is determined to be strong for her daughter. 'I feel like I've been continuously battered this year, and it's tough staying strong, but I'm doing it for my daughter,' Charlotte stated. 'I want to show her I'm brave and can get through anything. If I can survive the last few months, then I know I can survive anything.'
Understanding the 'Suicide Disease'
The condition she battles, trigeminal neuralgia, is described by the NHS as sudden, severe facial pain often likened to an electric shock. Attacks are typically brief but excruciating, usually affecting one side of the face.
The charity Trigeminal Neuralgia UK notes it is frequently called 'the worst pain known to man' and is also known by the harrowing moniker 'the suicide disease' due to its severity and impact on sufferers.
Charlotte has been a vocal advocate about her struggles with the illness. In a January 2024 interview with Metro, she explained the unpredictable agony: 'You don't know when you're going to have your next pain... it can be to a point you're screaming, you want to stick a knife in your face because it's unbearable.'
She also detailed lasting effects from a previous procedure, including short-term memory loss and loss of feeling in part of her face and tongue.
A Public Battle and Personal Turmoil
After being admitted, Charlotte posted an image from her hospital bed on Instagram, writing: 'I have unfortunately found myself back in hospital with a terrible attack and this has resulted in me needing another neurosurgery to control it.'
She praised the neuro team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and urged fellow sufferers to 'keep fighting'. Her post concluded: 'They call this the suicide disease for a reason. I'm so grateful for my family and friends... Wish me luck and see you on the other side!!'
This health crisis follows a year of intense personal scrutiny for Charlotte, stemming from her public claim that influencer Conor Maynard was the father of her child, born in October 2024. Maynard later stated paternity tests proved he was not the father, a claim Charlotte continues to dispute. The situation was further complicated by allegations, which she denies, involving another Traitors contestant, Jonny Holloway.
Throughout her ordeal, Charlotte's focus remains on her recovery and her daughter. Her story highlights the devastating personal impact of a little-understood medical condition, set against the backdrop of her life in the public eye.
