London Marathon 2018
Kirsty Brain is raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity
Story
My name is Kirsty (ironically Kirsty BRAIN) and I have a
Brain Tumour. But I am one of the lucky ones.
I have a meningioma, a non-malignant ‘lodger’ about the size of a grape. I was diagnosed in April whilst at the same time a close friend -Sharron Moore- was in the final stages of a courageous fight with a Brain Tumour. She had a grade 4 Glioblastoma; not as lucky. After a grueling 8 hour craniotomy operation, chemo and radiotherapy, she lost her life a couple of weeks after my diagnoses.
At the moment I am on Watch and Wait, yearly MRI scans as ‘Barry’ (as I call it- sorry any Barry’s) is in a ‘good’ location causing only a couple of symptoms. Just a millimetre to the left or right and I might be telling you a different story. But that is nothing, nothing compared to what others endure. Nothing compared to what fellow meningioma fighters are experiencing. Its interesting people say ‘well at least it is not cancerous’. And whilst I am so grateful this is my situation people automatically think everything is fine and you can live your life normally because it is not cancerous. Whilst I would never take anything away from the seriousness of malignant brain tumours, people with a meningioma suffer daily from fatigue, seizures, headaches, dizziness, loss of sight and hearing, to name but a few. For some it is life changing; being forced to give up work, surrender driving licences, and the inability to carry out simple everyday tasks.
I am fit and healthy and have always been active. I still play hockey for Yate Hockey Club and teach swimming. I have ran several half marathons, 10ks and 5ks so have some training in me but I am not complacent that a marathon will be a doddle.
Why London? It is a few days to the day of my diagnoses and also just weeks before the year anniversary of my friend’s death. Your support will help me mentally when my legs and lungs cannot so please donate every penny will spur me on.
I am also looking to take part in a number of other events. I'll keep you posted.
Brain Tumour. But I am one of the lucky ones.
I have a meningioma, a non-malignant ‘lodger’ about the size of a grape. I was diagnosed in April whilst at the same time a close friend -Sharron Moore- was in the final stages of a courageous fight with a Brain Tumour. She had a grade 4 Glioblastoma; not as lucky. After a grueling 8 hour craniotomy operation, chemo and radiotherapy, she lost her life a couple of weeks after my diagnoses.
At the moment I am on Watch and Wait, yearly MRI scans as ‘Barry’ (as I call it- sorry any Barry’s) is in a ‘good’ location causing only a couple of symptoms. Just a millimetre to the left or right and I might be telling you a different story. But that is nothing, nothing compared to what others endure. Nothing compared to what fellow meningioma fighters are experiencing. Its interesting people say ‘well at least it is not cancerous’. And whilst I am so grateful this is my situation people automatically think everything is fine and you can live your life normally because it is not cancerous. Whilst I would never take anything away from the seriousness of malignant brain tumours, people with a meningioma suffer daily from fatigue, seizures, headaches, dizziness, loss of sight and hearing, to name but a few. For some it is life changing; being forced to give up work, surrender driving licences, and the inability to carry out simple everyday tasks.
I am fit and healthy and have always been active. I still play hockey for Yate Hockey Club and teach swimming. I have ran several half marathons, 10ks and 5ks so have some training in me but I am not complacent that a marathon will be a doddle.
Why London? It is a few days to the day of my diagnoses and also just weeks before the year anniversary of my friend’s death. Your support will help me mentally when my legs and lungs cannot so please donate every penny will spur me on.
I am also looking to take part in a number of other events. I'll keep you posted.