I can’t recall most of what the consultant said, only the howling wind outside, the rain on his window and a few of the phrases: ‘It doesn’t look brilliant… About the size of a lemon…’
It was 19 August 2016. Earlier that day, we’d been for a ‘precautionary’ MRI the cause of the mild numbness in the she’d had since June.
Helen was t, slim, a healthy eater, a lifelong non-smoker. She was 43, with no previous serious illnesses. Now, however, she had a brain tumour.
The doctor wanted to admit Helen immediately. ‘Our girls are 13 and 15. I need to tell them myself,’ she said.
‘OK, but I want you admitted tonight, even if it’s late,’ he stressed.
Driving home, we kept asking each other ‘What are we going to tell them?’
By the time we pulled into the drive, we’d made the decision that we’d tell them the truth together.
‘Mum has a brain tumour,’ I said. ‘She has to go into hospital, now.’
Daisy, our 15-year-old, asked ‘Is Mum going to die?’ I told her that we’re all going to die, but that hopefully Mum wasn’t going to die any time soon.
Helen went under the knife at about 8am on 1 September for surgery that lasted six hours. It was some time after 3pm that I got the news that she was awake and the operation had gone well.
There are lots of different types of malignant brain tumour, and in the week or so that it took to analyse the excised tissue, I knew far too much about them all.
This story is from the May 04, 2021 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 04, 2021 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HIGHLAND FLING
Welcome to the lesser-seen side of this magnificent land
Should care homes ban alcohol?
When it comes to booze, care homes must balance risk against quality of life, according to a new guide
FROM SCHOOL BUS TO DREAM HOME
Josie Rose, 33, put her practical skills to the test to create a cosy cottage on wheels
I COULDN'T AFFORD MY FRIENDS
When Tej Patel, 41, went through some major life changes, she experienced a friendship wealth gap
EASTER TREATS
Sweet baking projects to whip up this bank holiday weekend
ONE-PAN ROASTS
Stress-free ideas for Easter entertaining
A NEW WOMAN
For Jess Ponting, 37, a surprise diagnosis helped to decode her problematic relationship with food
WHAT'S THE BEST AGE TO FALL IN LOVE?
Apparently, 27 is the magic age most of us meet our soulmate. But these three women prove that love can conquer at any stage of life
TONE UP IN 6 WEEKS FOR FREE!
Slip on your trainers and shape up for spring
₤1 HEALTH BOOSTS
Feeling good doesn't have to cost the earth with these cheap-as-chips lifestyle hacks