It’s late summer 2018, I was enjoying our holiday abroad with my 2-year old son Ash, although, whilst away, I started to get random headaches. Each week after they were getting worse, but I was putting it down to eye strain, my work hours and parenting. Friends, family and colleagues started to notice the effect these headaches were having on me and encouraged me to attend A&E at Basildon hospital. I went, but was dismissed with a diagnosis of possible migraines and sent home with headache pills, however, staff booked me in for an MRI six weeks later as a precaution.

In September/October 2018 the symptoms were becoming unbearable, in-fact, so much so that I was struggling to cope. I went back to A&E but they dismissed me again with the same diagnosis (severe migraine). In November I was signed off work, I was vomiting, I felt fuzzy, completely drained and eventually, I began to collapse to the floor and have what I now know were seizures. Thankfully, the MRI was due, six weeks after my first visit! The MRI was taken, and hospital staff noticed some swelling on my brain. As you can imagine, I was taken aback. However, the full diagnosis would take a further four excruciating days.

The eventual diagnosis was a massive shock to me, my family and friends. We all knew something was wrong (due to the swelling) but being told that an aggressive form of tumour known as Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) had been found, well, I just couldn’t take-in that kind of news! Unfortunately, that wasn’t all, I was also told that I had to have a potentially life-threatening operation that evening and would be immediately transferred to Queens Hospital (Romford), it had us all stunned!

The morning of the surgery I was in tears, would I ever see my beautiful family and friends again? Would I come out of surgery with brain damage? The operation followed, it was a success! The tumour was carefully removed, we all felt the relief and elation that I had survived, I believed I was over the worst of it, my recovery was remarkable, apart from partially losing the sight in my right eye, I was mobile, I could communicate and there was no cognitive issues, I was so happy, this time it was tears of joy!

The elation was short lived. A couple of weeks later, I was invited back to Queens Hospital to meet with the surgeon who had performed my procedure and informed me that my Glioblastoma was a grade 4, the most aggressive cancer to affect the brain and life expectancy is just 12-month's. More tears followed. There didn't appear to be much hope for me and I was left to deal with this news. I just couldn't think straight, myself and my partner were in tears again, I do not want to die young!

As the weeks have passed, I have felt stronger, mentally and physically, there are no more tears, I push myself to do the things I usually do and ensure I am around people that make me happy, using humour to get through each day and most importantly, I try to stay positive. I am only able to do this because of my amazing family, friends and colleagues support. I am ready to do whatever is necessary to survive cancer. I am a mum of 3 boys, Mitchell, Maison and my youngest, Ash and I love them all dearly. I am devoted to my family, they are what I live for. What I really want is to get back to work as a nurse, go on holidays and travel, I want to have so many more memories.

Time is of the essence! My life has changed forever, I am currently unable to work as a registered community psychiatric nurse (a job I absolutely love) and I no longer feel independent. I was a proud working mother and now, suddenly, I’m not, I can’t even drive! I need your love, support and prayers more than ever. Family and friends want to give me the best fighting chance of survival. I’m currently undergoing daily Radiation and Chemotherapy at Queens Hospital in Romford (Dec to Mar 2019). Incredibly, the NHS do not support other forms of cancer treatment, however, there are some patients in the US & Europe who have seen a dramatic change in their prognosis and who are going into remission after receiving alternative treatments (i.e. immunotherapy, frankincense, CBD, DCVax, etc.) to those commonly given for malignant brain tumours. This is what I am up against, and this is the kind of treatment I need!

Thank you for reading xx