February 21st 2009 Mark and I arrived home after 2 weeks on holiday in Calgary skiing. Two days later Mark collapsed at work and took 4 seizures within an hour. After being rushed into hospital Mark was sedated and put into a controlled coma where he slept for 33 hours.

 

Consultants told us that Mark who was 33 at the time had a shadow on the right frontal lobe of his brain. They were not 100% sure what it was however they were initially treating him for meningitis. A week later we received the devastating news that Mark had a Brain Tumour. We were all of a sudden catapulted into a whole new world.

 

A world where words like chemo, brain surgery, cancer nurse, radiotherapy, MRI scans, neurologists and oncologists were those you heard other people talk about nothing you would ever be associated with yourself!.

Well we were and it was very real, Mark was operated on July the 20th 2009 at Aberdeen Royal infirmary.

 

His operation took approx 7 hours.   I paced the grounds of ARI quite a few times, a feeling I can’t quiet explain, hurt, anger, why us, why me.....why Mark! A sporty outgoing fun loving man who has never harmed anyone! Why him!  My mobile rang and it was the surgeon he told me that 90% of the tumour was removed; we were also told it wasn’t cancerous however 2 weeks later the pathology report came back and confirmed he had an Oligodendroglioma Grade 3 but the lower spectrum of Grade 3 and yes it was malignant. It was cancer.................

Mark then embarked on a 6 week combined radio therapy / chemotherapy. 7 days a week he had to take chemo tablets 5 days a week we spent our lunch hour in ARI radiography department.......

 

He then had a 1 month rest and then had to endure 6 months of chemotherapy. The treatment was 1 week of each month Mark would take chemotherapy tablets, not once did he ever complain or take one day off of work, he worked right through his treatment.

 

He carried on his life like anyone else would and during this has kept a positive attitude throughout everything. He is an inspiration to those who have the same condition.........

 

Not only had our lives totally changed forever another little surprise awaited us and in September of 2009 we found out we were going to have a baby!

Fastforward to 2011, and between my friends and family, we have ran a 10k raising £5500, my cousin and her bestmate organised a race night raising £2500, I ran the Virgin London Marathon and created a 2011 Bare all for Brain Tumour Calendar which all generated over £10,000.  Mark and I are now running the Bupa GNR, and my mate Emma and I are organising a dinner dance in the Caird Hall www.fbatbt.co.uk in October.  So life has changed dramatically!

 

Mark has had 3 clear MRI's and we pray each day for him and those still fighting and for the families who have lost their loved ones to this horrible debilitating cancer!

Please dig deep xxxxx

 

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