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Most of you will know that I am not one who goes in for sympathy and a daily phrase of mine is “Suck it up!” So please bear that in mind when you read my personal “tale of woe” below that is designed to shamelessly tug on your heart-strings and make you delve deep into your pockets for the very worthy institution - Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre.

In 1996 the strong and wonderful man, who since I was 7 had thought of as my “active” dad, was struck down with a brain tumour.  Rob was in the United Arab Emirates when he had a seizure, which in hindsight was a good thing as he received top-notch medical treatment immediately.  When Rob came home, he was constantly infuriated that he couldn’t find the right words to use.  This frustration lessened after receiving brain surgery and radiotherapy at Marsden Hospital.

On the day I was about to embark on the new adventure that was Seale-Hayne Agricultural College Rob took a turn for the worse and was omitted to Pilgrims Hospice.  I dithered as to whether to go to Uni or stay at home, but Mum talked me into not putting my life on hold.  Luckily, I returned home for my first reading week in February 2008 and was there when he passed away.

My “real” dad was a man with a strange sense of humour.  What man, when left in sole charge of a 3 year old crying for their mum, would put Jaws on the TV to entertain them?  Well my Dad did and bizarrely it worked – I stopped crying immediately and Jaws is still my favourite film.  This may be the reason I now have the same twisted sense of humour.  His wit was something that never left him, even though Parkinson’s ended up robbing him of his physicality – and, to an extent, parts of his personality.  It was about the same time I was watching Jaws that the doctors first mentioned Parkinson’s as a possible reason why my Dad’s right hand was shaking uncontrollably.  Everyone thought that was crazy; my dad was in his early 30’s.  But the diagnosis proved to be correct.  He had two pioneering surgeries to slow the neurological disease.  While Parkinson’s doesn’t kill, it does cause deterioration of the body.  While I was in Hong Kong in 2007 it was this that caused my Dad to fall and die of heart failure.

I returned from Hong Kong and was beginning to make a life for myself in Bristol in April 2008 when my Mum had “a funny turn” which doctors first thought was a stroke as she was unable to speak.  I think the neurologist who had to break the news to me was shocked when my facial expression turned from worry to comprehension when she confirmed it was a glioblastoma multiforme rather than a stroke.  The reason was I understood brain tumours, I knew how to deal with that, I knew what to expect.

Mum was taken to Kings College London, where a very delightful neurologist operated and removed the majority of the tumour.  Straight after the surgery she was able to speak, walk and was almost back to normal – she even managed to flirt with the wonderful team of neurologists during her post-op checks.  We had many sessions at various oncology departments with the very charming Dr. Charmers and the patient Dr. Sadler. 

Mum attended the support group and counselling sessions at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre in Haywards Heath, the leading centre of brain treatment in the country.  Not long after surgery Mum’s head swelled up, so I took her immediately to Hurstwood Park.  The diligent care from the nurses and neurologists impressed both Mum and I immensely.  It transpired after chatting with another delightful surgeon (are you seeing a theme here?)  that all neurologists at Hurstwood Park were part of the King’s College Neurologist team and they all take rotations down at Hurstwood Park.  He said that working at Hurstwood Park was a valuable part of their training.  I have since learnt that surgeons who had been part of these rotations operated on Rob at Marsden Hospital and the two surgeries on my Dad at Kings College.

It seems that my family have a pre-disposition towards neurological diseases, so I have decided that I should raise money to help a facility that trains such wonderful and talented neurogolgists.

Please support this cause by sponsoring my Coast to Coast walk.