Hi everyone

Firstly let me thank you for taking the time to read this - hope you have a spare 5mins!

Sadly in 1999 my mum suddenly died following a seizure, something she had been having since her brain tumour ( meninginoma) had been diagnosed some years previously. The tumour was succesfully removed in 1996 just as i was in my final year of university finishing my nursing degree. Some weeks after the operation it became apparent that my mums eyesight had been affected & also her memory. She also continued to have seizures, although they were now less frequent they were lasting longer and so often ended up with a hospital admission. She was always very positive about things and had an impressive infectious laugh and for those of you that knew her you can certainly vouch for that! My mum and i used to joke about the memory clinic she attended through the hospital saying ' its amazing how people remember to go' ' most people forget why they are there'...i believe it was this humour that got her through the next few years. In that time she had had numerous hospital admissions and was awaiting a cranioplasty when she died. 

She died on August 1st 1999 whilst taking an afternoon nap - she was 46yrs. I was 24 at the time living and working away. Work gave me some time off but i ended up being off sick for a couple of months. I went to my GP who said it was too soon to speak to anyone and that i could only be offered counselling if i still felt the same way in 6 months time.I went home following that appointment feeling distraught. My family were grieving & so i could not turn to them. My friends were great but they lived away and they were grieving too to an extent. 

Being introduced to a charity like The Brain Tumour Charity Jersey at diagnosis would have meant a support network right there. I was only 15yrs when my mum had her first seizure but the tumour was only diagnosed 3yrs later. Inbetween this time my family just got on with life. Having a charity like this meant i could have made a phone call, had a chat, or attended a support group - anything! 

This charity has been up & running since 2011 they assess each case individually and offer practical bespoke support and assistance which i think is brilliant. People who have/ had a brain tumour can sometimes find the easiest daily tasks a struggle and thats where the charity comes into its own. They can assist with shopping, hospital appointments, travel, counselling, patient and family support groups but most of all they are a point of contact for everyone affected. You can pick up the phone and call someone - looking back i think my mum and my family would have definatley utilised this charity and the money i raise will be used to continue this work.

With your help, the charity can continue their work helping individuals, families and their friends affected by a brain tumour. If just one person can be supported through a difficult time giving them whatever it is they need then my 13.1 mile run would have been worth it.

Thank you for all of your support 

Kathryn

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