Julie O'Malley
Julie's West Highland Way Sept 2022
Fundraising for The Pituitary Foundation
Story
Easter morning 1974 and our lives changed forever!
MY BROTHER, Peter came down and said he couldn't see out of his right eye. Previously Peter had been at sick bay in school, complaining of headaches. I hadn't any idea but …..
Peter ended up in hospital in Derby, with a pituitary tumour. He lost a lot of his sight. He had to take lots of medication. It was a terrible time for Peter, but also for the family. At the time there was no help or support for families in this situation.
Anyway, fast forward from 1974 to 2022. That man, my brother is amazing. The person who went to Derby hospital wasn't the same one who came back. HIS Heightened awareness of sound, HIS shouting & getting angry. I was lost. I spent the next few years plotting how to get out of the family home.
I disappeared to Newcastle and continued with my life, ignoring my family and my brother.
But THINGS ARE BETTER NOW, SO I am doing the West Highland Way for the Pituitary Foundation.
I swim open water, run, decorate, garden, cycle you name it.
Peter has to get up and slowly enters the world each day. I wake and it's “Hello world. Ready or not.” I love all my brothers, David, Andy and Pete, but WHAT HAPPENED TO PETER AND OUR FAMILY was life changing.
Peters’ resilience and determination is amazing. I remember he so much wanted to drive but never could. The song Ed Sheeran sings " First times" snatched away from Peter so young. Pituitary disease is rare.
ONE PERSON IN 220,000 GET A PITUITARY CONDITION. PETER’S IS RARER, MAKING HIS CONDITION ONE IN A MILLION. MY BROTHER.
BACK IN THE 1970s THERE WAS NO HELP FOR PATIENTS OR FAMILIES LIKE OUR FAMILY.
NOW The Pituitary foundation helps patients diagnosed with PITUITARY conditionS, to cope and manage their condition.
Peter volunteers for them.
This is why I am WALKING the West Highland way.
THIS IS A LONG WALK. A VERY LONG WALK.
YOUR donation can help MANY patients coping with this rare and awkward TO MANAGE condition.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PITUITARY CONDITIONS, GO TO
Julie O'Malley
for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.