I was diagnosed aged 26 with a brain tumour after suffering with double vision, dizziness and realising I was slurring my words. I had also been three months pregnant when I first started to feel unwell, but sadly lost the baby.

After several trips to the optician, I was referred to Moorfields Hospital in London and underwent a range of tests. Some weeks later, I was shocked to learn I had a brain tumour, which turned out to be a meningioma. I underwent gamma knife surgery, a type of radiation therapy, and was told I couldnt have children as meningiomas can grow dramatically in pregnant women due to hormonal change.

For five years I was told that the tumour had remained stable, but this wasnt the case, it had been growing. I had surgery to debulk the tumour. Sadly it was only successful in removing around 5%. I had radiotherapy for six weeks which stabilised the tumour, but I have been left with facial spasms which occurred every couple of weeks after the surgery. Then, after an accident three years ago, the spasms, which are now very painful, increased. Some days I have up to 12 facial spasms.

On the plus side, I have had a miracle baby. Ruby is now five and my pride and joy. However, when I fell pregnant despite taking precautions, the medics tried to insist I abort the baby because of the danger to me.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

I have set up Officially Lisa Connell under the umbrella of national charity Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness and more importantly help to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients and ultimately find a cure. Please donate whatever you can. I have so far been lucky, but I have to be scanned regularly for regrowth.