Three years ago, as Christmas approached, mum of four Kirsty Drury was trying to focus on her family’s coming festivities. But she was distracted by symptoms of what seemed like recurring conjunctivitis.
‘I work as a senior manager, putting in long hours. At first, I attributed my itchy, bloodshot right eye to too many night shifts,’ says Kirsty, 46, who lives with her husband, Pete, 58, in Hertfordshire. ‘But after weeks of irritation coming and going, a friend commented that my eye was looking swollen and slightly odd, encouraging me to go to my GP.
'I finally consulted my family doctor one morning in November 2019, expecting to be prescribed ointment or eye drops. Instead, he moved a pen across my field of vision, asking me to follow it. And apparently when I looked to one side, my eye wasn't moving as expected.
Kirsty was referred for an urgent appointment that same day at an eye casualty at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire, where a consultant ordered a CT scan. 'Straight afterwards, as I was called in for the results, I knew from the look on his face that something was very wrong,' she remembers. 'He'd found a mass behind my right eye. He thought it was probably benign, but at that stage, couldn't be sure. Of course, I went into panic mode, fearing the worst. Did I have cancer? Was I going to die? When you start the day with suspected conjunctivitis and end it knowing you have a brain tumour, you can’t be blamed for thinking the worst!’
This story is from the November 15 - 22, 2022 (Double Issue) edition of WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
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 November 15 - 22, 2022 (Double Issue) edition of WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
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
GARDEN notes
Vibrant annuals and fruit and veg
Springtime IN VENICE
A weekend in this floating city is a feast for the senses
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Breathe EASY
Do you need an air purifier at home? We find out
Stress-free ENTERTAINING
Enjoy a seasonal prep-ahead spread with friends or family
Bonded FOR LIFE
As a new mother faced the most agonising of challenges, her best friend stepped in to hel
The easy way TO EXERCISE AND HEALTH
You don't need a gym to get fit, just mini bursts of activity throughout the day to get you in shape. Here's how
TESTED BY US!
Dry shampoo refreshes hair between washes - and lifts roots and boosts volume. Here are our favourites
'Coronation Street changed my life'
Actor Georgia Taylor on finding fun and lasting friendships on the cobbles
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY