Michaela Laidlaw
Virgin London Marathon 2019
Fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity
Story
I was first diagnosed with a slow growing benign grade 2 oligodendraglioma brain tumour on the 2nd January 2015 when I was 26 years old. Having only been married 9 months our plans of starting a family had to be put on hold.
I underwent a successful 5 hour craniotomy 6 weeks after diagnosis without any further treatment needed.
I fell pregnant in November 2015 and gave birth to a healthy baby boy who is now a bundle full of fun and a happy, cheeky 2 year old!
Within these 2 years I had regular MRI scans and unfortunately the ‘mushroom’ as we’d come to name it had grown back at a much faster rate than anyone had ever expected.
I needed another crainiotomy and this time was advised to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy afterwards.
October 2nd 2017 I underwent another 5 hour operation which at the time went successfully. However a lot of complications followed and I was back in hospital for a large amount of time away from my family only to be followed by another ‘correction’ operation.
After all this I then decided against the chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I just wanted to concentrate on getting myself heathy, live my life and embrace the fact that I was finally home with my family in time for Christmas 2017.
The impact of living with a Brain tumour has and still does hugely effect me and my family both physically and mentally. I am however one of the lucky ones and as I’ve always said ‘there are always people worse off’.
16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every single year however, only 1% of the National spend on cancer research gets allocated to this devastating disease.
On the 28th April 2019 I will participate in my first (and probably last!) Virgin London marathon for the Brain tumour charity.
I have set a pledge to raise £3,000 to help this fantastic charity find a cure for this horrendous disease.
Lastly, personally and most importantly of all, I will complete my first ever marathon to show my son Spencer that however tough times can feel, you must stay strong, keep fighting and never give in.
In the future I want him to look back and say ‘mummy I’m so proud of you, you are a fighter’
I underwent a successful 5 hour craniotomy 6 weeks after diagnosis without any further treatment needed.
I fell pregnant in November 2015 and gave birth to a healthy baby boy who is now a bundle full of fun and a happy, cheeky 2 year old!
Within these 2 years I had regular MRI scans and unfortunately the ‘mushroom’ as we’d come to name it had grown back at a much faster rate than anyone had ever expected.
I needed another crainiotomy and this time was advised to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy afterwards.
October 2nd 2017 I underwent another 5 hour operation which at the time went successfully. However a lot of complications followed and I was back in hospital for a large amount of time away from my family only to be followed by another ‘correction’ operation.
After all this I then decided against the chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I just wanted to concentrate on getting myself heathy, live my life and embrace the fact that I was finally home with my family in time for Christmas 2017.
The impact of living with a Brain tumour has and still does hugely effect me and my family both physically and mentally. I am however one of the lucky ones and as I’ve always said ‘there are always people worse off’.
16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every single year however, only 1% of the National spend on cancer research gets allocated to this devastating disease.
On the 28th April 2019 I will participate in my first (and probably last!) Virgin London marathon for the Brain tumour charity.
I have set a pledge to raise £3,000 to help this fantastic charity find a cure for this horrendous disease.
Lastly, personally and most importantly of all, I will complete my first ever marathon to show my son Spencer that however tough times can feel, you must stay strong, keep fighting and never give in.
In the future I want him to look back and say ‘mummy I’m so proud of you, you are a fighter’
