My name is Vicky, I'm 30 and I am mother to 4 lovely boys. Last May, I was at work, in a pre-school when just before home time I suffered a seizure. The next thing I remember was a paramedic in my face and a lot of concerned faces. I was taken to hospital and I was told I would be referred for a MRI scan and to see the doctor if I was to have another seizure, where medication would be started. It was assumed I may have developed epilepsy. At the end of May, I was staying with family. I went to bed, and the next thing I remember is paramedics again. I had suffered a seizure in my sleep, although my partner thought I was snoring, he luckily realised. Again I was taken to hospital, and then I was put onto medication. The whole thought of having epilepsy upset me, life wouldn't be the same. I had my MRI, when three days later my consultant from the Royal Berkshire hospital rang and said a mass had been found and I must come in next week to discuss. This was now a whole different ball game, I was devastated and nervous

He said I could watch and wait or have a biopsy, which obviously carried many risks, but I had to make the choice. He arranged for me to be seen by a surgeon from the John Radcliffe. This surgeon was the change in my life I needed, like a guardian angel. He was so positive and straight away said I was to have a biopsy, as the location was good, not in a too effectible area. He would also remove as much as he could at the same time. The date for the operation soon came and I went in. I was so nervous, tried to be brave as so many thoughts were going through my head, “what's going to happen? Will I survive? What will happen to my children?". The next day I was told my op wouldn't go ahead as there was complications getting the scan images from the RBH and the scanner at the JR was broken. I was so upset, my children had been so brave and had prepared themselves for mummy not being there and staying with relatives. Obviously I understood the importance for the images needed.

The following week I went in again. This time I was first on the list. As I was being wheeled down to theatre, I finally cracked, and the positive attitude I had went out the window, I started to panic. I was shaking and crying but the theatre staff were amazing, they understood. I was still upset when I was in the anaesthetic room, but my surgeon came in and told me “don't be upset, I'll look after you, its fine". With that I went to sleep. The next thing I knew there were bright lights and someone saying “it's all fine, it's all over now, you're ok". That feeling was one of the best in the world. The op had taken 4 hours and I looked pretty horrendous, like Frankenstein!

A huge blow

After 2 nights in hospital I went home, under instructions to take it easy, do nothing. That's very difficult for me but oh how I wish I had listened. That night I suffered a seizure in the kitchen, with my 3 eldest boys with me. I remember their screams, then nothing. I woke to paramedics, again, and was taken to hospital. My mum came with me whilst my partner looked after the traumatised boys. I suffered a further seizure on the way to hospital and then again at the hospital. It was awful, and I always feel deflated and even a bit embarrassed after a seizure. A CT scan showed a little bleeding from the site of the operation but this is quite common. So life carried on and I went to get the results.

I was dealt the huge blow that I did in fact have a malignant type of tumour which was a slow growing, low grade so I supposed it could have been worse. Life at that point changed and for the week or so after I was in pieces, my partner was in pieces, the kids didn't know what was going on, friends were ringing me crying – the only people to hold it together in front of me were my mum and dad. I lost my job my house everything i owned i have now finally got another house but lost everything and has you can imagine with no help and no job at the moment i cant afford beds for the kids sofa bed for me kitchen stuff dining table clothes so if you can spare a £1 please help thank you so much