30th May 2018, was the biggest challenge I’ve ever had to face. I owe my life to the Walton centre. This is me in intensive care after an 8 hour brain and spinal cord surgery to remove a brain tumour. My family are doing the hope mountain hike to raise money for the Walton centre a place that held a special place in our hearts since my dads surgery and now holds an even more special place. We would really appreciate any donations, Keep reading for the full story:

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In 2017 i was diagnosed with a tumour on the c1 vertebrae of my spine 10 months later in 2018 I’d lost all feeling in the left side of my body. The left of my body was becoming further paralysed as the days went on, i lost all temperature in the right side of my body my arm was, I couldn’t wash my own hair, put my deodorant on, I was deteriorating daily. an MRI and it confirmed that the 3mm tumour had grown to 6cm and it was now time to make plans to remove it.

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This decision was not taken lightly, it was a high risk surgery and there was potential I’d be quadriplegic and on a breathing machine for the rest of my life but the alternative was no more appealing.

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I was due to be admitted on 29th of may, but on the 25th of may my birthday i had to be emergency admitted and put on steroids as I’d lost the ability to swallow. Then on the 30th the went surgery ahead, My two surgeons have given me my life back. 8 hours later I remember waking up in recovery and thinking okay it’s done, now the hard work starts.

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I can’t even describe the pain of a craniotomy, and having half a vertebrae removed, I now only have half of my C1 vertebrae as they had to remove it for the surgery And it wasnt possible to put it back. The care i recived was just unbeliveable, the surgeons, the bursing staff and the rehab team just made me feel safe and that made one heck of a difference to my mental state.

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I’ve learnt to walk again, learnt how to function as a totally new me and returned to my university course 4 months post op. I’m proud of myself, but I couldn’t of done it with out the people who came to visit me and my family.

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This post is long enough and I’m crying writing it so il stop here and hope you can donate, even if it’s only a small amount you’ll be helping someone in a huge way.

Thank you in advance from all the Skillicorns xxx