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I would just like to let you know my story if you would spare me a few minutes of your time.
I am now 45 and apart from one minor hernia op about 3 years ago I have always been relatively fit and healthy. I have worked at the same firm since leaving school, over 28 year now. I'm a lifelong Grimsby Town fan having attended my first match in 1972.
At the end of January 2008 I began to get headaches and seeing as I work with computers all day, I thought I may need glasses, so I went for an eyetest. Anyway, the opticians obviously saw something was wrong and referred me to my local hospital (Grimsby). Once there I was admitted immediately and a CT and MRI scan later I was told I had this tumour and the next morning I was transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary as they do not do brain ops at Grimsby.
My tumour was a meningioma , Luckily for me (if you can say luckily) I have been told they are 95% sure it is benign and they have removed the entire tumour. It was a long pencil shaped tumour on the top of my brain and they had to open up the top of my head to remove it.
I was in originally for nearly 4 weeks when they did 2 ops. Firstly an embolism to block the blood supply to the tumour which took 3 hours and then the op to remove it which took 6 hours. Two days after my main op I had a seizure, the result of which is that the DVLA have revoked my driving licence for a year and I am currently taking phenytoin tablets to control any further seizures. Luckily, so far I have had no more. I came home after 4 weeks and everything seemed fine but then I noticed my wound was leaking.
I was referred back to Hull and spent a further 6 weeks there and had another 2 ops. Firstly they removed the bone flap in my head which had become infected and then a re-exploration of the main op as my body was rejecting an artificial dura which was put in at the time. During this 6 week stay I was on 12 bags of antibiotics intravenously every day and also had a lumber drain fitted for a similar amount of time to drain excessive fluid in my body.
I came out of hospital the second time in early May 2008 and i've been back at work fulltime since July 1st 2008. Since I have been out I have raised almost £3000 for Brain Tumour UK through various events.
I need to go back into hospital shortly to have an artificial bone put back in my head. I've been through worse but I'm not looking forward to it as they will have to open up my entire wound again. I was told this would be March/April time but as of today (10th August) I am still waiting for the call.
I was due my 2nd yearly MRI scan at the end of May 2009 (which again I am still waiting for).
I have been given a second chance and intend to grab it with both hands and enjoy the rest of my life and anything I can do to raise awareness of this awful illness, I will be more than happy to do.
If you would like to sponsor me that would be fantastic. Donations go direct into the bank account of Brain Tumour UK.
I also host a charity football quiz league which is held on the first Monday of each month at The Tap & Spile pub in Garth Lane, Grimsby.
Also a number of fans who I travel to Grimsby away games with have booked a charity skydive to raise funds for Brain Tumour UK. So far there are about a dozen definites which will hopefully raise a nice sum towards brain tumour research.
Also, I have now successfully reapplied for my driving licence and I am now the proud owner of a 58 reg Fiat Punto Active. I want to thank all the friends and family who were fantastic for the year I was unable to drive but its great now to have my freedom back and not having to rely on anyone.
Thanks for reading ,
Les
UPDATE - DECEMBER 09
The skydive and sportsmans evening has now been held and over £4000 has been raised from the 2 events. On a personal note I have now had my 2nd yearly MRI scan and thankfully it has shown that there is no sign of the tumour regrowing and I have also now had the op for the replacement bone-flap. This operation went quite well and I have now had the staples removed. The wound was quite swollen though so I have had it aspirated (drained) and my head rebandaged. I go back to Hull on the 8th of December for the wound to be checked..
UPDATE - APRIL 2010
All now ok with my latest operation and total raised now stands at almost £8000.
