In December 2016 I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Here is my story...
I was hospitalised following a seizure in November three days after my 36th birthday, a week later I found out my wife was expecting our second child. I met with a Neurologist at a first fit clinic and was sent for a routine MRI and told to expect nothing to show up on the scan.On 28/12/16, everything changed as our whole world was turned on its head. I received the shocking news that I had a brain tumour. A month after Xmas I underwent brain surgery to debulk the majority of the tumour (a part had spread into an area of my brain that the surgeon was uncomfortable trying to remove). The surgery removed 50% plus of the tumour. After a three week wait, biopsy results confirmed I have an incurable glioma tumour.
I started a course of radiotherapy, everyday for 6 weeks and last month I began what will be around 9 months of chemotherapy. In between times my beautiful daughter Lucy Jaimie Connelly was born.
I have been unable to work since February 2017 and have been reduced to half-pay. My wife Lisa is self-employed and only receives SMP. We have a three year old daughter, Jessica-Lily, as well as our new arrival Lucy. Caring for us all and with me laid low means we don't know when Lisa will be able to return to work. These circumstances have placed an enormous emotional and financial strain upon us.
This just giving page has been set up for anyone who would like to help us in any way you can to get through this. The money will help us greatly with alternative therapies which may be able to prolong my life and my time with my family.This is an ongoing fight and at some point this tumour will regrow more aggressively.
Brain tumours are the least researched and funded cancers in the UK despite being the no.1 cancer killer of under-40s. In future we will organise events to help raise money for the brain tumour charity but for now it's about supporting my family and my treatment. Thank you.