Writing a message for my daughter Sienna's 21st birthday, I try to find the words I want to say, the advice I can give, and the wisdom I can share. Sienna won't open the card for another 19 years, but it's unlikely I'll be by her side then. Because shortly after she was born in November 2021, I was dealt the devastating blow that I had 12 months to live. Now, 22 months on, I'm still here, defying the odds and making each day count. I'm not sure how much longer I have, but for the moment, all that matters is making memories with my daughter.
I started feeling poorly in July 2021, but I was three-and-a-half months pregnant, so I assumed the headaches, tiredness and sickness was all to be expected. My fiance Danny, then 27, and I had talked about babies since we'd met in 2014, and it was no secret I wanted a girl. Imagine all the pretty dresses and cute little bows,' I grinned. In August, we threw a gender reveal party and I was overjoyed when pink powder and confetti fired out of the cannon. I started preparing, decorating the nursery in pink and grey, with cute bunnies everywhere.
But a couple of weeks later, I woke to find my right foot was numb. I couldn't wriggle my toes or feel anything and when it didn't subside, the GP sent me to A&E, suspecting the baby might be sitting on a nerve.
From A&E, I was referred for spinal scans. But they came back clear and doctors didn't seem worried, so I wasn't either. I assumed I was being referred for an MRI at The Walton Centre - a specialist neurology hospital in Liverpool - just as a precaution. My mum Barbara, 63, came with me and after, we went to see the consultant together. I'm sorry, you've got a brain tumour,' he said, confirming there was a growth on the left side of the frontal lobe. But he couldn’t tell me what type or what grade, and because I was pregnant, they couldn’t use a contrast dye to check for cancer.
Esta historia es de la edición September 18, 2023 de WOMAN'S OWN.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 18, 2023 de WOMAN'S OWN.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A BAD ROMANCE
From drink and drugs to affairs and arrests, these famous ladies can't resist striking up with a bona fide rebel
'I DON'T SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY'
Dame Joan Collins on success, dealing with rejection and what's next for her
SUNSETS AND SOUKS
Head to Morocco's boho seaside town of Essaouira for an easy, breezy break in cinematic surroundings
Help! MY HUBBY'S HAVING A MIDLIFE CRISIS
Julie Cook's husband has gone from a calm, classically dressed gent to a leather-clad, zip wiring thrill chaser!
THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING A POLICE DETECTIVE
Crime dramas like Happy Valley make for gripping TV, but how close are they to reality? DCI Fiona Wynne of North Yorkshire Police reveals all...
MY NEIGHBOUR TO BURN ME ALIVE
Faced with an inferno, Laura Wiggins, 53, only had only one option
HELD HOSTAGE BY MY EX
Rhianon Bragg is living in fear after the ex-partner who terrorised her was released from prison
SALON NAILS at home
Nail a DIY manicure with our easy and affordable step-by-step guide
YOUR SPEEDY SHAPE-UP
Put off your new season slimdown and now in a panic? This clever plan promises fast results
ARE YOU TOO STRESSED TO SLEEP?
Avoid restless nights with these calming tips to help you nod off