Hello my name is Sarah Jane Holt.
At the back end of last year, I was told I had a brain tumour. Not only was this a massive shock and devastating news but it was also a lot to take in, as I had an 8 month old baby girl and a husband about to begin training for a 6 month tour of Afghanistan.
My neurosurgeon, Professor Kane, and his team suggested that I had surgery in the near future to remove the tumour. However, they appreciated that it was the week before christmas and so the decision was made that my operation would take place soon after the festive season.
I received a phone call to say that the surgery would go ahead on Tuesday 29th December. Although it was good to have a date to focus on, it also worried my family and I as we all knew this was a massive operation with a lot of dangerous outcomes. One of the possibilities of the operation was that I could end up being paralysed from the neck down as the location of the brain tumour was affecting my spinal cord.
The surgery, an 8 and a half hour operation, went ahead as planned on the 29th December and thankfully was a success. I can't remember too much about that evening or the few days that followed but I was told all the tumour and affected surrounding tissue had been removed. Biopsies of the tumour were taken and different tests were carried out to find out whether the tumour was cancerous or not. After a few nervous days waiting everything came back ALL CLEAR.
My family, friends and I are all now firm believers in 'what a difference a day makes' and so we grab everyday with both hands. This is why after some long thinking and many afternoons of research I've decided to a sponsored head shave in support of The Brain and Spine foundation http://www.brainandspine.org.uk/. It's a Charity that helps support sufferers and their families through their illnesses and also aids research into further treatment and better diagnosis.
I'm one of the lucky ones and I'm on the long road to recovery.
Everyone is welcome to watch me get my head shaved. It will be happening on Tuesday 9th March. At the front door of the Tesco store in Catterick Garrison.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope to see you all there on the big day.
Love Sarah x
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