Catherine Dell

Catherine's Lichfield Half Marathon page

Fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity
£1,430
raised of £1,000 target
by 110 supporters
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
We are moving further, faster to help everyone affected by a brain tumour

Story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Many of you will know my story. But for those that do not....... read on....

On 26th February 2014 I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Jessica. After a long tiring labour resulting in a c-section I suffered a seizure. On the same day as having my daughter I was diagnosed with a 4cm Brain Tumour in my front right lobe.

Very frightened I returned home with my baby and waited several weeks until I had recovered from my c-section and was ready to go under the knife again. MRI scan's, CT scans, blood tests..... conversations about actually having my skull drilled into. I thought it was the beginning of the end for me. On 16th April I was back in hospital for a craniotomy to try and remove my unwanted visitor.

In this time I realised my mortality and struggled to bond with my daughter in the fear that I was going to die and never be there for her. During this time I was put on a steroid called Dexamethasone. Dexamethasone was to be my best friend and my worst enemy. I put on 5 stone within weeks. I lost muscle in my legs making it impossible to climb stairs and play with my baby.

Then came the surgery.... a time in my life I don't recall much now, probably for the best. With my hair shaved, a stapled wound across the front of my head, Cushings from steroids... I had no confidence, this was not what being a new mum was meant to be like......

I was one of the lucky ones. My surgeon removed all of my tumour ( Ganglioglioma Grade 1).

Nearly 2 years on..... I have lost the weight & returning to normal. I regained my confidence & fitness from doing the Brain Tumour Twilight Walk last year I am now aiming to complete my first Half Marathon. 

Im not afraid to say, I was frightened......so scared of not being here anymore.

Brain Tumours are often diagnosed too late, as they can not be felt or seen. People are still surprised when I tell them that Brain Tumours are the biggest cancer killer in children! Well........ they are. More needs to be done to diagnose/treat Brain Tumours.

The brain tumour charity supported me & my family through the lowest time of my life. I want to kindly ask you..... to help me......help a cause that is so close to my heart.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

About the charity

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we’re moving further and faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour. A cure really can’t wait

Donation summary

Total raised
£1,429.40
+ £307.65 Gift Aid
Online donations
£1,429.40
Offline donations
£0.00

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